Of all the towns along the Bassin de Thau, Marseillan is my favourite. Its harbour, which protrudes inland, hosts both locals and visitors -- not only people who sail the sea or fish in the lagoon, but also yachtsmen and tourists who travel the Canal du Midi and make a stop before crossing the Etang and pursuing their voyage along the Canal du Rhône. All these people gather to bask in the sunshine on the quayside, which in the late summer afternoons takes on golden hues. Marseillan is also the home of the French wine-based apéritif, Noilly Prat. Nowhere does it taste better than in its home town.