L'aventure du balnéaire explores the visionary seaside development of La Grande Motte, a hallmark of French coastal architecture from the 1960s and 1970s. Co‑authored by architect‑historian Antoine Picon and Claude Prélorenzo, the book examines Jean Balladur’s master plan, detailing how modernist principles and bold urban design reshaped a stretch of Mediterranean shoreline into a distinctive resort town. Through photographs, plans, and critical commentary, it situates the project within broader trends of 20th‑century city planning and French architectural history, offering insight into the social, cultural, and environmental implications of building a new seaside identity. The concise, illustrated volume serves both scholars of architecture and readers interested in the evolution of coastal tourism spaces.