Aigues-Mortes
A fully walled medieval city from which Saint Louis set out on the Crusades. You can walk the entire circuit of its ramparts.
Aigues-Mortes was built in the 13th century by King Louis IX of France as the departure port for the Crusades. Its 1.6-kilometer city walls and the Tour de Constance have survived intact. Tickets for climbing the tower and walking the ramparts cost about 8 euros. A full circuit of the walls takes about an hour, with views over pink salt pans and the Camargue wetlands. Restaurants cluster around the squares in the town, and local specialties include fleur de sel and Camargue rice. It is about 35 km from Montpellier, and there are trains.
Opening hours
City walls about 10:00–18:00 (extended in summer)
Nearby sights
- Salins d'Aigues-Mortes
- Plage de l'Espiguette
- Palavas-les-Flots
- Planet Ocean Montpellier
- Antigone
- Maguelone Cathedral
- Place de la Comédie
- Musée Fabre