The town of Sète, in the southeast of the Hérault department, was known under the spelling Cette until 1927. Home to almost 44,000 inhabitants, the Mediterranean city has seen the birth of many artists such as Paul Valéry, Georges Brassens, and Manitas de Plata. Sometimes nicknamed the Venice of Languedoc, the city center of Sète is crisscrossed by numerous canals. Its fishing port is highly recognized despite competition from other ports on the Mediterranean coast.