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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 visitors, 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 inform you it has been an absolute gong-show, however as extensively well-liked 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 overseas 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’ll usually miss out on among the most awe-inspiring, fairytale spots (un)recognized to most.
In a current 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 nearly could not imagine my eyes—and the very fact there have been only a few foreigners in sight:
Is This The Final True Hidden Gem Of France?
Aigues-Mortes is just not the standard city that may function on the journey brochure displayed at your resort entrance desk should you’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 recognized 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 whole stand-alone article to the nationwide park, most likely probably the most fascinating bird-watching and wildlife-spotting web site in Europe––look forward to finding elegant pink flamingos and majestic wild horses prancing about––however let’s follow Aigues-Mortes.
It’s positioned 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 vastly vital heart 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 as we speak:
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 collection of towers and fortified gates.
Chivalric romance stuff, you realize?
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 nearly as should you’re transported again in time.
You would spend hours on finish exploring at leisure, and also you’re positive to search out one or two secret courtyards with a centuries-old effectively on the heart and loads of memento retailers 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 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.
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 method, it isn’t each day you get to see a medieval citadel straddle a pink physique of water, and what a sight, my mates!
High 3 Greatest Vacationer Actions In Aigues-Mortes
Go to The Salines
One among 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.
Apart from shopping for different-flavored salt, you possibly can hop on a vacationer practice rattling up the slender lanes between saltpans, and should you’re hoping to snap the basic postcard image of the pink lake with the Aigues-Mortes townscape for backdrop, I might recommend you sit on the left aspect.
There is a small, fairly fascinating 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 practice go to lasts simply over an hour, and tickets price $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 whole 1.8-mile extension of them, and ensure you convey a bottle of water, and an influence financial institution for that limited-battery cellphone, as you will most likely be taking photos each step of the way in which.
There are many actions in and round Aigues-Mortes that ought to maintain you busy for a few days, so I recommend you intend a minimum of 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 price $56 per individual.
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
For those who’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 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 historical 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 very best andouillette sausages and probably the most tender, melt-in-your-mouth lamb shoulder you will ever attempt.
For those who’re vegan, Le XIII is the place to go: not solely have they got a beautiful secluded out of doors seating space, shaded by unique bushes, however their refreshing Bergère salad, accompanied by chèvre-et-miel toast tastes heavenly on significantly scorching summer time days.
Aigues-Mortes is well-known round France for its seafood, significantly its mussels, and Casa Toro is the place you will discover the very 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 value vary for eating places is a suitable $30-35, should you’re ordering a small entrée, a primary dish and a glass of wine or similarly-priced drink, and the service is normally impeccable—dwelling in Paris myself, I’ve misplaced rely of the variety of occasions I’ve needed to cope with ill-tempered waiters.
Aigues-Mortes has not one of the large metropolis fast-paced dwelling, visitors, nor hustle and bustle, and as I perceived it, persons are simply in a greater temper than Parisians basically: it is no surprise Aigues-Mortes was not too long ago ranked by Reserving the most welcoming town within the area.
Apart 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 acquired round…) and I simply cannot imagine it is but to be overrun with worldwide vacationers.
Find out how to Attain Aigues-Mortes
For those who’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 a variety of colder European locations, like London (Gatwick), Copenhagen, Berlin and even Paris.
For those who’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 price as low cost as $1.
For those who’re touching down in Montpellier, you possibly can 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 below 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, accepted or in any other case endorsed by any of the entities included inside the publish.
