As we wake up early in the morning we decide to visit Aigues Mortes before checking out of our hotel that we also see in the daylight for the first time. It is surprisingly busy with no parking spots left, we are happy that we were able to find one the previous night.
We know that we can walk to the downtown area on a hiking trail parallel to a nearby canal which we find relatively easy behind the close-by supermarket.
Downtown Aigues Mortes, which was for some time France’s only Mediterranean port, is still surrounded by the original walls which were build to protect it from the Spanish. Luckily we have no trouble in find an entrance, in fact multiple, and in we go.
The central area is touristy but as we walk towards another section of the wall there are fewer shops and tourists until suddenly we are the only people on the street.
The houses are also less touristy and we find a fun probably unintentional ‘smiley’ house while wandering around. The most interesting monument we find during our exploration is a dedication to the eight crusade that started from here and ended soon in Tunis with the death of the French king.
We examine the walls closely, they are well built but still there are gaps and whenever there is a gap there is a pigeon in it. There are a lot of pigeons in fact which we really enjoy as we try to find them and point them out.
We exit through a different gate to view the walls from a different side and they are quite impressive from this side. It is also unfortunately the local parking area it seems so it is an interesting mix of modern and old.
We then walk towards our hotel. Before checking out however we also enter the nearby supermarket and buy some provisions for the following day and some souvenirs. And then we check out and it is time to see the Camargue.
