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.
Final 12 months alone, it hosted over 100 million company, who flocked from everywhere in 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 in style as France is, one factor I’ve discovered touring throughout the territory is that enormous 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 transferring to the subsequent nation in line, they may typically miss out on a number of the most awe-inspiring, fairytale spots (un)recognized to most.
In a latest journey to the Camargue area, I stumbled upon one among 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 will not be the standard city that might function on the journey brochure displayed at your resort entrance desk should you’re coming to France.
Not like Good, Avignon, St Tropez and the like, the French would very very similar to to maintain it a secret.
It’s a small settlement within the historic Camargues, a coastal space of France greatest recognized for its huge wetlands, and a UNESCO-protected reserve vacationers are principally bypassing altogether when touring up the N113 on the best way 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 website in Europe––anticipate finding elegant pink flamingos and majestic wild horses prancing about––however let’s persist with 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 vastly necessary heart of commerce within the Center Ages, when it collected 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 without doubt one of the best-preserved medieval treasures nonetheless surviving in France immediately:
What Makes Aigues-Mortes So Particular?
I do know Dubrovnik gets all the praise, and even in France, Mont St Michel citadel is much extra simply acknowledged, however the square-shaped Aigues-Mortes can also be surrounded by intact metropolis partitions and defended by a sequence of towers and fortified gates.
Chivalric romance stuff, you realize?
Strolling the charming Outdated City, a grid-like maze of cobbled lanes lined by an identical stone homes, distinguished by their flower preparations and colourful window shutters, it is virtually as should you’re transported again in time.
You possibly can spend hours on finish exploring at leisure, and also you’re positive to search 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.
Probably the most putting function right here, and one you’ll be able to’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.
Effectively, I need to add they aren’t lakes correct, however saltpans which are naturally salmon-colored as a result of presence of a microscopic algae that proliferates within the setting.
Briefly, do not attempt to go for a swim as it is from being… hem, secure.
Both method, it is not day by day you get to see a medieval citadel straddle a pink physique of water, and what a sight, my associates!
High 3 Finest Vacationer Actions In Aigues-Mortes
Go to The Salines
One in all my favourite issues to do in Aigues-Mortes is visiting the Salin d’Aigues-Mortes, the city’s landmark saline, dwelling to the most important salt marsh in the whole Mediterranean basin and the place about 500,000 tons of salt per 12 months are produced.
Aside from shopping for different-flavored salt, you’ll be able to 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 would recommend you sit on the left facet.
There is a small, quite fascinating museum on website, 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 price $13.90 per particular person (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’ll be able to stroll the whole 1.8-mile extension of them, and be sure you deliver a bottle of water, and an influence financial institution for that limited-battery telephone, as you may most likely be taking footage each step of the best way.
There are many actions in and round Aigues-Mortes that ought to maintain you busy for a few days, so I recommend you propose at the least an in a single day right here––I stayed myself at Lodge L’Escale (check out the Google reviews here), within the coronary heart of the ‘Internal Metropolis’, or the walled Outdated City, and a double room price $56 per particular person.
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 case you’re eager on experiencing French culture—and by that I imply sampling each kind of cheese beneath the scorching solar and sipping a Sable de Camargue Rosé —the Primary 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 historic custom, head to Chez Coco.
They serve freshly made pizza and pasta for the weak of abdomen, and for the extra adventurous variety like me, one of the best andouillette sausages and essentially the most tender, melt-in-your-mouth lamb shoulder you may ever attempt.
In case 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 scorching 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 one of the best 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 obtainable.
One Of The Most Welcoming Locations In France
The worth vary for eating places is an appropriate $30-35, should you’re ordering a small entrée, a major dish and a glass of wine or similarly-priced drink, and the service is normally impeccable—dwelling in Paris myself, I’ve misplaced depend of the variety of occasions I’ve needed to cope with ill-tempered waiters.
Aigues-Mortes has not one of the huge metropolis fast-paced dwelling, site visitors, nor hustle and bustle, and as I perceived it, persons are simply in a greater temper than Parisians usually: it is no marvel Aigues-Mortes was lately ranked by Reserving the most welcoming town within the area.
Aside from the cultural worth and the friendliness of locals, Aigues-Mortes is without doubt one of the most original locations I have been in France (and boy, have I obtained round…) and I simply cannot consider it is but to be overrun with worldwide vacationers.
The right way to Attain Aigues-Mortes
In case you’re questioning methods 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 case 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 price as low cost as $1.
In case you’re touching down in Montpellier, you’ll be able to journey from Montpellier to Aigues-Mortes, however it’s going to require one change in Nîmes, tickets for the whole journey costing from $7.48, at a complete journey period of 1h28 for the shortest switch occasions.
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Opinions expressed listed here are the creator’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 throughout the publish.