Medieval Town By A Bubblegum Pink Lake: One Of The Last True Hidden Gems In France
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France is the most visited country worldwide, simply surpassing Spain, Italy and Mexico.
Last 12 months alone, it hosted over 100 million company, who flocked from all around the globe to see the Eiffel Tower sparkle at night time or marvel on the regal opulence of palaces like Versailles.
I dwell right here, in Paris particularly, and I can let you know it has been an absolute gong-show, however as extensively common as France is, one factor I’ve discovered touring throughout the territory is that giant swathes of it stay largely undiscovered.
As a majority of international vacationers will usually verify off Paris and, if time allowing, go to a few summery cities within the French Riviera earlier than shifting to the following nation in line, they may typically miss out on among the most awe-inspiring, fairytale spots (un)identified to most.
In a current journey to the Camargue area, I stumbled upon one in all these hidden gems, a medieval metropolis resting on the banks of a bubblegum pink lake, and I nearly could not consider my eyes—and the very fact there have been only a few foreigners in sight:
Is This The Last True Hidden Gem Of France?
Aigues-Mortes just isn’t the standard city that may function on the journey brochure displayed at your resort entrance desk should you’re coming to France.
Unlike Nice, Avignon, St Tropez and the like, the French would very very like to maintain it a secret.
It is a small settlement within the historic Camargues, a coastal space of France finest identified for its huge wetlands, and a UNESCO-protected reserve vacationers are largely bypassing altogether when touring up the N113 on the way in which to Montpellier.
I might dedicate a complete stand-alone article to the nationwide park, most likely essentially the most fascinating bird-watching and wildlife-spotting web site in Europe––anticipate finding elegant pink flamingos and majestic wild horses prancing about––however let’s persist with Aigues-Mortes.
It is positioned on the junction of two channels, the Rhône and the Maritime, making it a pure transit hub for boats touring back and forth the coast; for sure, Aigues-Mortes was a vastly necessary heart of commerce within the Middle Ages, when it accrued most of its cultural wealth.
I did not know what to anticipate pulling up with the automotive earlier than the imposing medieval ramparts, however as I might quickly discover out, this offbeat city tucked away within the salines of Camargue is without doubt one of the best-preserved medieval treasures nonetheless surviving in France as we speak:
What Makes Aigues-Mortes So Special?
I do know Dubrovnik gets all the praise, and even in France, Mont St Michel citadel is way extra simply acknowledged, however the square-shaped Aigues-Mortes can be surrounded by intact metropolis partitions and defended by a collection of towers and fortified gates.
Chivalric romance stuff, ?
Strolling the charming Old Town, a grid-like maze of cobbled lanes lined by equivalent stone homes, distinguished by their flower preparations and colourful window shutters, it is nearly as should you’re transported again in time.
You might spend hours on finish exploring at leisure, and also you’re certain to search out one or two secret courtyards with a centuries-old effectively on the heart and loads of memento outlets the place you should buy pure Camargue salt, lavender merchandise, and distinctive craftwork.
The most hanging function right here, and one you possibly can’t simply miss should you’ve been to a justifiable share of castles earlier than and also you’re already numb to the artifical wonders of Europe, is the vividly-pink lakes that border the historic ramparts.
Well, I have to add they don’t seem to be lakes correct, however saltpans which are naturally salmon-colored as a result of presence of a microscopic algae that proliferates within the atmosphere.
In brief, do not try to go for a swim as it’s miles from being… hem, secure.
Either means, it is not day by day you get to see a medieval citadel straddle a pink physique of water, and what a sight, my pals!
Top 3 Best Tourist Activities In Aigues-Mortes
Visit The Salines
One of my favourite issues to do in Aigues-Mortes is visiting the Salin d’Aigues-Mortes, the city’s landmark saline, house to the most important salt marsh in your complete Mediterranean basin and the place about 500,000 tons of salt per 12 months are produced.
Other than shopping for different-flavored salt, you possibly can hop on a vacationer prepare rattling up the slim lanes between saltpans, and should you’re hoping to snap the traditional postcard image of the pink lake with the Aigues-Mortes townscape for backdrop, I’d recommend you sit on the left aspect.
There’s a small, reasonably attention-grabbing museum on web site, too, and you may even climb up a salt mound for a panoramic panorama of the standard Camargues panorama.
The Petit prepare go to lasts simply over an hour, and tickets value $13.90 per individual (or the equal in euro).
Walk The Ramparts
In city, the must-do attraction is accessing the ramparts and their adjoining Constance Tower: sure, you possibly can stroll the complete 1.8-mile extension of them, and be sure you carry a bottle of water, and an influence financial institution for that limited-battery telephone, as you will most likely be taking photos each step of the way in which.
There are plenty of actions in and round Aigues-Mortes that ought to preserve you busy for a few days, so I recommend you propose no less than an in a single day right here––I stayed myself at Hotel L’Escale (check out the Google reviews here), within the coronary heart of the ‘Inner City’, or the walled Old Town, and a double room value $56 per individual.
On common, room charges in Aigues-Mortes vary from $113 to $160 on Booking, a much more affordable ask than Paris’ jaw-dropping $208 to $342 on the peak of Olympics season.
Sample Some World-Class French Food
If you are eager on experiencing French culture—and by that I imply sampling each sort of cheese below the scorching solar and sipping a Sable de Camargue Rosé —the Main Street main from Porte de la Gardette to the Notre-Dame des Sablons Church is flanked by conventional brasseries.
For rustic, wood-fired meals that screams historic custom, head to Chez Coco.
They serve freshly made pizza and pasta for the weak of abdomen, and for the extra adventurous type like me, the perfect andouillette sausages and essentially the most tender, melt-in-your-mouth lamb shoulder you will ever strive.
If you are vegan, Le XIII is the place to go: not solely have they got a stunning secluded out of doors seating space, shaded by unique timber, however their refreshing Bergère salad, accompanied by chèvre-et-miel toast tastes heavenly on notably sizzling summer season days.
Aigues-Mortes is well-known round France for its seafood, notably its mussels, and Casa Toro is the place you will discover the perfect mussel à la Aigues-Mortaise on the town, salted to style, and do not forget to order an anchovy-based anchoïade dipping sauce for the bread, if obtainable.
One Of The Most Welcoming Destinations In France
The worth vary for eating places is an appropriate $30-35, should you’re ordering a small entrée, a predominant dish and a glass of wine or similarly-priced drink, and the service is often impeccable—residing in Paris myself, I’ve misplaced depend of the variety of instances I’ve needed to take care of ill-tempered waiters.
Aigues-Mortes has not one of the massive metropolis fast-paced residing, visitors, nor hustle and bustle, and as I perceived it, individuals are simply in a greater temper than Parisians generally: it is no marvel Aigues-Mortes was not too long ago ranked by Booking the most welcoming town within the area.
Other than the cultural worth and the friendliness of locals, Aigues-Mortes is without doubt one of the most original locations I’ve been in France (and boy, have I bought round…) and I simply can’t consider it is but to be overrun with worldwide vacationers.
How to Reach Aigues-Mortes
If you are questioning how you can get right here, the closest airport is in Montpellier (MPL), serving the namesake metropolis, and internet hosting seasonal low-cost flights from various colder European locations, like London (Gatwick), Copenhagen, Berlin and even Paris.
If you are already in Southern France, nonetheless, getting right here is even simpler, because the city is served by a prepare station with direct hyperlinks to the town of Nîmes: the SCNF-TER service takes roughly 53 minutes to finish the journey, and tickets value as low cost as $1.
If you are touching down in Montpellier, you possibly can journey from Montpellier to Aigues-Mortes, however it would require one change in Nîmes, tickets for your complete journey costing from $7.48, at a complete journey length of 1h28 for the shortest switch instances.
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Opinions expressed listed here are the writer’s alone, not these of any financial institution, bank card issuer, resort, airline, or different entity. This content material has not been reviewed, authorised or in any other case endorsed by any of the entities included inside the put up.