Free walking tours in Aigues-Mortes and what to see

Must-sees

Aigues-Mortes is a walled town in the Gard department, on the edge of the Camargue, surrounded by lagoons, canals and salt pans. Saint Louis founded it in the 13th century to have a port on the Mediterranean, and he set off from here on crusade. Its ramparts survive in full and you can walk the wall walk, with views over the rooftops and the marshes. The Tour de Constance, the great round tower beside the wall, served as a prison for centuries, above all for Protestant women.

Inside the walls, the streets form a grid leading to Place Saint-Louis, with the king’s statue and lots of café terraces. Close by is the church of Notre-Dame-des-Sablons, simple and with contemporary stained glass. Outside the walls, the salt pans turn the water pink and can be toured on organised visits, and flamingos are easy to spot in the lagoons. The beach at Le Grau-du-Roi is a few kilometres away.

Free tours and guided visits

Aigues-Mortes has no regular free walking tours. What Civitatis offers is a ticket for the fortress, which lets you climb the Tour de Constance and walk the ramparts. The walled centre is easy to explore on your own. To round off your visit, the salt pans have their own tours, and boat trips on the Camargue canals leave from the town.

How long to spend

Allow half a day for the walled town, the tower and the ramparts. If you add the salt pans or a boat trip, it takes the whole day. With two days you can add an afternoon on the beach at Le Grau-du-Roi or a trip to Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer and the Camargue nature park. In summer crowds arrive around midday, so getting up early helps.

Where to stay

Staying inside the walls has its charm: there are small hotels and guesthouses in old houses, and at night the town is quiet. Outside the walls, by the canals, there are hotels with parking that are easier if you are driving. Le Grau-du-Roi and Port-Camargue, on the coast, have most of the beach apartments and hotels, and in the Camargue countryside there are rural mas.