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 yr alone, it hosted over 100 million friends, 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 stay 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 realized touring throughout the territory is that enormous swathes of it stay largely undiscovered.
As a majority of overseas 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 subsequent nation in line, they are going to usually miss out on among the most awe-inspiring, fairytale spots (un)identified to most.
In a latest journey to the Camargue area, I stumbled upon one in every of 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 actual fact there have been only a few foreigners in sight:
Is This The Final True Hidden Gem Of France?
Aigues-Mortes just isn’t the everyday city that might function on the journey brochure displayed at your lodge entrance desk if you happen to’re coming to France.
In contrast to 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 greatest identified 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 may dedicate a whole stand-alone article to the nationwide park, in all probability probably 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 keep on 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 from side to side the coast; for sure, Aigues-Mortes was a massively necessary middle of commerce within the Center Ages, when it accrued most of its cultural wealth.
I did not know what to anticipate pulling up with the automobile earlier than the imposing medieval ramparts, however as I’d quickly discover out, this offbeat city tucked away within the salines of Camargue is likely one of the best-preserved medieval treasures nonetheless surviving in France at present:
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 be surrounded by intact metropolis partitions and defended by a sequence of towers and fortified gates.
Chivalric romance stuff, you recognize?
Strolling the charming Previous City, a grid-like maze of cobbled lanes lined by similar stone homes, distinguished by their flower preparations and colourful window shutters, it is nearly as if you happen to’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 nicely on the middle and loads of memento retailers the place you should buy pure Camargue salt, lavender merchandise, and distinctive craftwork.
Probably the most hanging function right here, and one you may’t simply miss if you happen to’ve been to a fair proportion 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 need to add they aren’t lakes correct, however saltpans which can be 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’s miles from being… hem, protected.
Both means, it isn’t daily you get to see a medieval citadel straddle a pink physique of water, and what a sight, my mates!
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, house to the biggest salt marsh in all the Mediterranean basin and the place about 500,000 tons of salt per yr are produced.
Aside from shopping for different-flavored salt, you may hop on a vacationer practice rattling up the slim lanes between saltpans, and if you happen to’re hoping to snap the basic postcard image of the pink lake with the Aigues-Mortes townscape for backdrop, I might counsel you sit on the left aspect.
There is a small, somewhat attention-grabbing museum on website, too, and you’ll even climb up a salt mound for a panoramic panorama of the everyday Camargues panorama.
The Petit practice go to lasts simply over an hour, and tickets value $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 may stroll the total 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 in all probability be taking photos 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 counsel you intend no less than 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 Previous City, and a double room value $56 per particular person.
On common, room charges in Aigues-Mortes vary from $113 to $160 on Booking, a much more cheap 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 culture—and by that I imply sampling each sort of cheese underneath the scorching solar and sipping a Sable de Camargue Rosé —the Fundamental 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, the most effective andouillette sausages and probably the most tender, melt-in-your-mouth lamb shoulder you may ever strive.
In the event you’re vegan, Le XIII is the place to go: not solely have they got a stunning secluded outside 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 may discover the most effective 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 accessible.
One Of The Most Welcoming Locations In France
The worth vary for eating places is a suitable $30-35, if you happen to’re ordering a small entrée, a major dish and a glass of wine or similarly-priced drink, and the service is normally impeccable—residing in Paris myself, I’ve misplaced depend of the variety of instances I’ve needed to cope with ill-tempered waiters.
Aigues-Mortes has not one of the large metropolis fast-paced residing, 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 just lately ranked by Reserving the most welcoming town within the area.
Aside from the cultural worth and the friendliness of locals, Aigues-Mortes is likely one of the most original locations I have been in France (and boy, have I bought round…) and I simply can’t consider it is but to be overrun with worldwide vacationers.
Learn how to Attain Aigues-Mortes
In the event you’re questioning the best way to get right here, the closest airport is in Montpellier (MPL), serving the namesake metropolis, and internet hosting seasonal low-cost flights from a lot of colder European locations, like London (Gatwick), Copenhagen, Berlin and even Paris.
In the event you’re already in Southern France, nevertheless, getting right here is even simpler, because the city is served by a practice 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.
In the event you’re touching down in Montpellier, you may journey from Montpellier to Aigues-Mortes, however it can require one change in Nîmes, tickets for all the 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, accepted or in any other case endorsed by any of the entities included throughout the put up.