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France is the most visited nation worldwide, simply surpassing Spain, Italy and Mexico.
Final yr alone, it hosted over 100 million visitors, 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 broadly 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 sometimes test off Paris and, if time allowing, go to a few summery cities within the French Riviera earlier than shifting to the subsequent nation in line, they may typically miss out on a few of the most awe-inspiring, fairytale spots (un)identified to most.
In a latest journey to the Camargue area, I stumbled upon certainly one of these hidden gems, a medieval metropolis resting on the banks of a bubblegum pink lake, and I virtually could not consider my eyes—and the actual fact there have been only a few foreigners in sight:
Is This The Final True Hidden Gem Of France?
Aigues-Mortes shouldn’t be the everyday city that may function on the journey brochure displayed at your lodge entrance desk in case you’re coming to France.
Not like Good, Avignon, St Tropez and the like, the French would very very like to maintain it a secret.
It’s 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 principally bypassing altogether when touring up the N113 on the way in which to Montpellier.
I might dedicate a whole 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 follow Aigues-Mortes.
It’s situated on the junction of two channels, the Rhône and the Maritime, making it a pure transit hub for boats touring backward and forward the coast; evidently, Aigues-Mortes was a massively essential heart of commerce within the Center Ages, when it gathered 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’d quickly discover out, this offbeat city tucked away within the salines of Camargue is among the best-preserved medieval treasures nonetheless surviving in France right this moment:
What Makes Aigues-Mortes So Particular?
I do know Dubrovnik will get all of the reward, and even in France, Mont St Michel citadel is much 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, you recognize?
Strolling the charming Previous City, a grid-like maze of cobbled lanes lined by equivalent stone homes, distinguished by their flower preparations and colourful window shutters, it is virtually as in case you’re transported again in time.
You may spend hours on finish exploring at leisure, and also you’re positive to seek out one or two secret courtyards with a centuries-old properly on the heart and loads of memento outlets the place you should purchase pure Camargue salt, lavender merchandise, and distinctive craftwork.
Essentially the most putting function right here, and one you possibly can’t simply miss in case 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.
Nicely, I have to add they aren’t lakes correct, however saltpans which can be naturally salmon-colored because of the presence of a microscopic algae that proliferates within the surroundings.
Briefly, do not try to go for a swim as it is from being… hem, secure.
Both approach, it isn’t daily you get to see a medieval citadel straddle a pink physique of water, and what a sight, my mates!
Prime 3 Finest Vacationer Actions In Aigues-Mortes
Go to The Salines
One in every of my favourite issues to do in Aigues-Mortes is visiting the Salin d’Aigues-Mortes, the city’s landmark saline, residence to the biggest salt marsh in the complete Mediterranean basin and the place about 500,000 tons of salt per yr are produced.
Aside from shopping for different-flavored salt, you possibly can hop on a vacationer prepare rattling up the slender lanes between saltpans, and in case you’re hoping to snap the traditional postcard image of the pink lake with the Aigues-Mortes townscape for backdrop, I would recommend you sit on the left aspect.
There is a small, somewhat attention-grabbing museum on web site, too, and you may even climb up a salt mound for a panoramic panorama of the everyday Camargues panorama.
The Petit prepare go to lasts simply over an hour, and tickets value $13.90 per individual (or the equal in euro).
Stroll The Ramparts
On the town, 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 may most likely be taking photos each step of the way in which.
There are many actions in and round Aigues-Mortes that ought to preserve you busy for a few days, so I recommend you propose at the very least an in a single day right here––I stayed myself at Resort L’Escale (check out the Google reviews here), within the coronary heart of the ‘Internal Metropolis’, or the walled Previous City, 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.
Pattern Some World-Class French Meals
In the event you’re eager on experiencing French tradition—and by that I imply sampling each sort of cheese beneath the scorching solar and sipping a Sable de Camargue Rosé —the Principal Road 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 historical custom, head to Chez Coco.
They serve freshly made pizza and pasta for the weak of abdomen, and for the extra adventurous form like me, the perfect andouillette sausages and essentially the most tender, melt-in-your-mouth lamb shoulder you may ever attempt.
In the event you’re vegan, Le XIII is the place to go: not solely have they got a beautiful secluded outside seating space, shaded by unique bushes, 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 may discover the perfect mussel à la Aigues-Mortaise on the town, salted to style, and remember to order an anchovy-based anchoïade dipping sauce for the bread, if out there.
One Of The Most Welcoming Locations In France
The value vary for eating places is a suitable $30-35, in case you’re ordering a small entrée, a fundamental 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, site visitors, nor hustle and bustle, and as I perceived it, persons are simply in a greater temper than Parisians generally: it is no marvel Aigues-Mortes was not too long ago ranked by Reserving the most welcoming town within the area.
Aside from the cultural worth and the friendliness of locals, Aigues-Mortes is among the most original locations I have been in France (and boy, have I received round…) and I simply can’t consider it is but to be overrun with worldwide vacationers.
Methods to Attain Aigues-Mortes
In the event you’re questioning tips on how to get right here, the closest airport is in Montpellier (MPL), serving the namesake metropolis, and internet hosting seasonal low-cost flights from quite a few colder European locations, like London (Gatwick), Copenhagen, Berlin and even Paris.
In the event you’re already in Southern France, nonetheless, getting right here is even simpler, because the city is served by a prepare station with direct hyperlinks to town of Nîmes: the SCNF-TER service takes roughly 53 minutes to finish the journey, and tickets value as low cost as $1.
In the event you’re touching down in Montpellier, you possibly can journey from Montpellier to Aigues-Mortes, however it would require one change in Nîmes, tickets for the 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 below are the writer’s alone, not these of any financial institution, bank card issuer, lodge, airline, or different entity. This content material has not been reviewed, accredited or in any other case endorsed by any of the entities included throughout the publish.
