The Essentials

Aigues-Mortes towers and ramparts

To visit the Aigues-Mortes towers and ramparts is to really know the city. What a privilege to be able to access the various towers and gates of the medieval city walls and discover its architectural treasures.

We begin at the governor's quarters and the three exhibition halls housed in it, to embark on the discovery journey. 

Crossing the "sleeping bridge", we can admire ingenious architecture of the famous Tour de Constance, an impregnable stronghold. We arrive at the tower viewing terrace, which grants us a 360° panorama, including a view of Pic Saint Loup.

From here, you can stroll along the ramparts, admiring the different landscapes: to the south, the saltworks; to the west, the port; to the north, the new town; and to the east, the fields. Take a look inside the walls, and you'll be amazed by the orderly layout of the streets.

For history buffs: exhibits, animated films and other installations that tell the story of the town and its fortifications can be appreciated throughout the walk.

Aigues-Mortes Saltworks

The Salin d'Aigues-Mortes is a nature reserve unlike any other. Just 1.5 km from the city walls, it stretches over 8,000 hectares of unspoilt landscape. Salt dunes, pink salt ponds, exceptional flora and fauna.

Let your conemplative-self be carried by the mini train. If you're up for it, you can even climb a camelle (a huge salt mound). 

There are also routes reserved for cyclists. Whether guided by a passionate naturalist or on your own, enjoy the wind whistling in your ears the smells teasing your nostrils and the landscapes filling your eyes! A unique experience!

For those who prefer to walk, you'll amble among salt ponds, admire the sun refracting on salt crystals. Alone or accompanied by a guide, you'll be totally engrossed!

For an immersive visit, guided by a former salt-maker, you can take a 4x4 into the heart of the grounds, to the nurseries where baby flamingos are reared in complete tranquillity... An incredible escapade!

Which option will you choose to explore?

Notre-Dame des Sablons Church

The church of Notre-Dame des Sablons stands testimony to the glory days and the crusades of Louis IX, the city's founder. Plundered, occupied, reclassified, enlarged, remodeled, pared down and renovated, it is now the showcase for unique works of art by exceptional, world-renowned artists!

As we enter the structure, we are struck by the harmony of the centuries-old stonework and the contemporary stained glass windows by artists Claude Viallat and Bernard D'Honneur. The magnificent, brightly-colored stained glass windows flood the church in a distinctive, ever-changing light that tracks the path of the sun.

We amble through. We discover a glass tabernacle by the multi-talented artist Jean Pierre Formica, and a stylized bust of Saint Louis by Josep Maria Subirach. This Spanish artist, whose style is clearly recongnizable, sculpted the Passion of Christ façade of Barcelona's famous Sagrada Familia Basilica.

Cross the central aisle, laid with time-weathered cobblestones, sit in the wooden pews and let the serenity of the place engulf you.

Les manades : bull and horse breeders

Want to get to the heart of Camargue and its ancestral traditions?

We'll take you to a manade, a Camargue bull and horse farm.

On foot or in a horse-drawn carriage, in a trailer pulled by a tractor or on horseback, whatever the itinerary, we're greeted by the owner, a dedicated manadier who tells us all about his daily work and his passion. He guides us through this unique universe. 

In summer, we can take part in a soirée Camarguaise , games with gardians, bouquet retrieval , bull sorting and branding... a true ballet of men and women gardians mounted on their Camargue horses, reveals itself before our eyes! We taste local delicacies and dance to the rhythm of gypsy music under the starry sky. Once the party's over, we leave and are gripped, almost immediately, by the desire to do it all again. We've definitely been enchanted.

In conclusion, Aigues-Mortes is a must-see destination for history and medieval heritage lovers. The towers and ramparts offer a breathtaking view of the town and its surroundings. The Notre-Dame des Sablons church is an architectural gem, housing unique works of art. The Aigues-Mortes saltworks offer an exceptional nature experience, while the Via Rhôna allows you to relax along the canal. Finally, the manades grant an immersion in Camargue bull and horse breeding traditions. Whether you're interested in history, nature or local culture, Aigues-Mortes is sure to captivate you.

La Via Rhôna on foot or by bike

A chance to let go on The Via Rhôna! 

Get on your bike or into a pair of comfortable shoes, put on your rucksack, packed with some essentials: a bottle of water, sun screen, a snack and a small repair kit... And we're off!

We head south towards the Mediterranean Sea for a 6km ride between the canal and the age-old salt marshes. Glance at the harbor, where boats sway gently against the backdrop of the city's ramparts.
With a breeze in your hair, breathe in the scents, let yourself be lulled by the undulating waters of the canal, and wait to be astonished by a pink flamingo taking flight.

If you wander a few kilometers northwards, you'll come across the majestic Tour Carbonnière, a former city toll gate, set amidst marshes and reed beds. To reach it, take the wooden walkway that winds over the wetlands. Climb the spiral staircase to the tower's viewing platform.

Let yourself be charmed by the calm and the beauty of the landscape.

YOU MIGHT also like...