White horses, bulls, and flamingos. Salt gardens with pink water that perfectly blends with the flawless blue of the sky. A town spoiled with 300 sunny days a year — in the Gard department, just 1.5 hours from Marseille. Welcome to Aigues-Mortes, in the heart of the Camargue.
A Fortified Medieval Town
History, land, and water: This profitable combination has allowed Aigues-Mortes to bear the label “Grand Site de France” since 2014. When visiting Aigues-Mortes, you embark on a journey into the past. The medieval town, founded in the 13th century by Louis IX, is still entirely surrounded by city walls. In the historic city centre, only 2000 inhabitants reside.
Climb the city walls and feel like a soldier watching over the city’s well-being, or ascend the Tour de Constance, which served as a prison for a long time. Stroll through the narrow streets and admire the colourful facades of the small houses where jasmine grows upwards, filling the entire city with a captivating scent. Just like the famous Fougasse d’Aigues-Mortes, a pastry made by local bakers with sugar and orange blossoms, delighting gourmets with its intense aroma.
On the south side, pass through one of the old city gates to explore the salt gardens a little further. The typical pink-coloured water, of which the Gardois are so proud, quickly becomes apparent. It’s time to learn more about the local salt.
The Salt in the French’s Soup
The blue and white salt shaker from “La Baleine” has been a staple on French dining tables for 90 years. With this brand and “Les Sauniers de Camargue,” the Groupe Salins has succeeded in making this small piece of land world-famous. The unique savoir-faire and the continuous effort to preserve the surrounding nature have also contributed to this.
Pink Water and Fleur de Sel
Also, a feast for the eyes is the characteristic pink colour of the water, caused by an alga named Dunaliella Salina. It thrives exclusively in the heart of the salt pans of Aigues-Mortes. Rich in beta-carotene (also used for pharmaceutical purposes), the water in the pans becomes pinker as the salt concentration increases. The pink colour of the flamingos — which are white until their 4th year — can also be attributed to this: The shrimps that the birds feed on, in turn, consume the pink alga.
To observe the pink water up close and learn more about the Natura-2000
