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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 dwell right here, in Paris particularly, and I can inform you it has been an absolute gong-show, however as extensively widespread 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 examine 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’ll typically miss out on a few of 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 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 isn’t the standard city that will characteristic on the journey brochure displayed at your lodge entrance desk in the event 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 finest 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 may dedicate a whole stand-alone article to the nationwide park, in all probability probably 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 stick 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; evidently, Aigues-Mortes was a massively vital 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 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 right this moment:
What Makes Aigues-Mortes So Particular?
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 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 an identical stone homes, distinguished by their flower preparations and colourful window shutters, it is virtually as in the event you’re transported again in time.
You 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 nicely on the middle and loads of memento outlets the place you should buy pure Camargue salt, lavender merchandise, and distinctive craftwork.
Essentially the most placing characteristic right here, and one you may’t simply miss in the event 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 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.
In brief, do not try to go for a swim as it is from being… hem, protected.
Both manner, it isn’t every single day you get to see a medieval citadel straddle a pink physique of water, and what a sight, my buddies!
Prime 3 Greatest 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 most important salt marsh in all the Mediterranean basin and the place about 500,000 tons of salt per 12 months are produced.
Apart from shopping for different-flavored salt, you may hop on a vacationer practice rattling up the slim lanes between saltpans, and in the event you’re hoping to snap the traditional postcard image of the pink lake with the Aigues-Mortes townscape for backdrop, I would counsel you sit on the left facet.
There is a small, somewhat fascinating museum on web site, too, and you’ll even climb up a salt mound for a wide ranging panorama of the standard 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 whole 1.8-mile extension of them, and be sure to deliver 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 preserve you busy for a few days, so I counsel you propose a minimum of 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 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 sort of cheese beneath the scorching solar and sipping a Sable de Camargue Rosé —the Important 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 form like me, one of the best andouillette sausages and probably 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 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 time 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 value vary for eating places is an appropriate $30-35, in the event you’re ordering a small entrée, a foremost dish and a glass of wine or similarly-priced drink, and the service is normally impeccable—residing in Paris myself, I’ve misplaced rely of the variety of occasions I’ve needed to take care of ill-tempered waiters.
Aigues-Mortes has not one of the huge 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 surprise Aigues-Mortes was just lately ranked by Reserving the most welcoming town within the area.
Apart 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.
How one can Attain Aigues-Mortes
In case you’re questioning easy methods to get right here, the closest airport is in Montpellier (MPL), serving the namesake metropolis, and internet hosting seasonal low-cost flights from numerous colder European locations, like London (Gatwick), Copenhagen, Berlin and even Paris.
In case 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 case you’re touching down in Montpellier, you may journey from Montpellier to Aigues-Mortes, however it should 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 occasions.
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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 inside the submit.