I tried the train tour at the Aigues Mortes Salin

Ride along to discover the natural site of the Salin d'Aigues-Mortes

Let me introduce myself: I'm Quentin, an intern at the Aigues-Mortes tourist office, and today I'm trying out the Petit Train ride at the Salin d'Aigues-Mortes.

1:45pm: I've just arrived at the parking lot and I can already see the star attraction that contributes to the Salin du Midi's reputation: the Mini Train, ready to welcome tourists from all over the world for a new excursion.

All aboard !

2:00 pm: The passengers board, the driver settles in, we're all set.  The mini train has departs and I'm off for an hour and a quarter's ride between these gigantic salt mountains and magnificent pink waters.

The exceptional size of the 8,000-hectare site stretches over several departements and is a genuine flora and fauna paradise . It's home to over 200 species of birds, including the famous pink flamingos, which we spot right away.

Our guide begins by telling us about the incredible work performed by the salt workers, who harvest the salt by hand. We then pass by colossal machines used to help harvest and process the salt, stockpiling it in its characteristic pyramid shape, which he calls "camelle" after the camel's hump.

A short stop at the Musée du Sel allows everyone to learn more about the Salin du Midi, with numerous exhibit panels explaining both the history of salt and its benefits to the human body.

 Perk: a stop to climb to the top of a salt mountain

The driver stops for a few minutes so that we can climb to the top of a salt mountain to admire the splendid panorama before us. We get a good view of the pink ponds, the nearby salt mounds and the town of Aigues-Mortes, less than 1 km away.

3:15 p.m.: How the time flies! It’s already the end of my exciting journey! The last stop is at the shop, which sells a range of products that have made Le Salin famous, such as La Baleine salt, fleur de sel and the cosmetics brand Eclaé, not to mention  the Saint-Louis vintage and Terre de la Baleine wines from the new Salin cellar.

Practical information to enjoy the outing:

• A guided tour accessible to all, available in several languages.
• Free, private parking on site.
• A shop full of products manufactured on site.
• Reservations: https://www.visitesalinsdecamargue.com/