La Grande-Motte is a seaside town in southern France with a look unlike most beach resorts. Its white buildings, wide paths and bold shapes make it feel like a city from the future imagined in the 1970s. The town sits about 30 minutes from Montpellier. It was built in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a French plan to develop the coast. The goal was to give French tourists a new beach choice and keep more visitors from going to Spain. Architect Jean Balladur led the design of La Grande-Motte. He looked at old temples and Mesoamerican pyramids for ideas. He then mixed those forms with modern design to create a new type of holiday town. Many of the buildings do not have simple box shapes. Some rise like pyramids, while others curve or lean in ways that catch the eye. Large balconies add more detail and give the buildings a strong graphic look. The town was planned around people, bikes and open space. Walkways and cycle routes connect many parts of the resort. Thousands of trees also break up the large white buildings. At Point Zéro, where the first buildings were created, the town feels more like a normal beach resort. Families spend time on the sand, while visitors sit at cafes near the shore. Yet the buildings quickly show what makes La Grande-Motte special. Few right angles appear in the skyline. The white structures create a clean and unusual view that feels far removed from a typical French resort. The main beach also has a Blue Flag award. In 2025, it was recognised for environmental management and water quality. Art is part of the town's design too. Concrete sculptures by artist Joséphine Chevry stand on the beach. They help shape the dunes and also provide shelter from the wind and sun. Some of these sculptures are now partly covered by sand. Still, they remain an important part of the original plan for the resort. La Grande-Motte has not always been popular. Like many seaside towns, it lost some of its appeal during the 1980s. Its bold style was seen by some as old fashioned. That view has started to change. Younger visitors are now showing interest in the town's strong 1970s style. Some families have also returned, following a tradition that began with earlier generations. Fashion has helped bring new attention to the resort. Designer Simon Porte Jacquemus once used La Grande-Motte as an inspiration for a collection and book. He remembered visiting the town as a child. Visitors can stay in several original buildings. Hotel Le Quetzal is one option. The three star hotel keeps much of its old character while offering updated rooms and modern comforts. Its balconies are designed like theatre boxes. Their shape creates an unusual view that can make the building seem tilted. Food is another part of the experience. Visitors can find simple meals and local dishes around the resort. Restaurants near the centre and beach offer choices from pizza to seafood. The town is also a good base for nearby sights. Visitors can explore the salt marshes or travel to Aigues-Mortes, a walled town with medieval roots. For architecture fans, though, the main attraction is La Grande-Motte itself. Walking through its paths reveals new shapes at every turn. The open air theatre, the white Saint-Augustin church and the large pyramid buildings all show Balladur's vision. The port adds another view, with yachts set against the unusual skyline. La Grande-Motte was built as a vision of the future. More than 50 years later, that vision still feels fresh and strange. Its mix of beaches, trees, art and bold design makes it a rare travel destination for anyone who wants to see a different side of France.