Is Aigues-Mortes worth it?
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2003
Posts: 589
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Is Aigues-Mortes worth it?
We will have extra time driving between Caracassone and Les Baux. Is Aigues-Mortes worth a stop? We aren't too interested in the Camargue region in general.
Thanks in advance for any suggestions.
Thanks in advance for any suggestions.
#2
We really liked it. We did the walk on the fortress walls and walked through the streets. It's quite a contained little village completely surrounded by high walls.
I don't know if it will be a let down after visiting Caracassone. Hopefully someone else can compare the two better.
I don't know if it will be a let down after visiting Caracassone. Hopefully someone else can compare the two better.
#3
Join Date: Aug 2003
Posts: 259
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I enjoyed Aigues-Mortes, although haven't been to Carcassone (heading there soon though). The fortress walls were a good walk and the town center cute (if touristy).
I enjoyed driving through/around the salt flats and the camargue as well - the first time I've ever seen pink flamingos (not at a zoo).
I enjoyed driving through/around the salt flats and the camargue as well - the first time I've ever seen pink flamingos (not at a zoo).
#4
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 849
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
We enjoyed our experience in Aigues-Mortes more than that in Carcassone.
That may have been a function of the smaller crowds (I admit that I think of other people as tourists, not myself).
We found Aigues-Mortes to be less commercialized and more accessible than Carcassone, and lunch in the central square felt as if we were in a real town rather than an amusement park. We got a map and self-guided tour at the tourist office and felt the ability to linger at our own speed improved our experience.
That may have been a function of the smaller crowds (I admit that I think of other people as tourists, not myself).
We found Aigues-Mortes to be less commercialized and more accessible than Carcassone, and lunch in the central square felt as if we were in a real town rather than an amusement park. We got a map and self-guided tour at the tourist office and felt the ability to linger at our own speed improved our experience.
#5
I spent Christmas in Aigues-Mortes 30 years ago. Really quite wonderful in the winter.
I also like Aigues-Mortes better than Carcasonne - smaller, more authentic, fascinating history.
A visit to Les Stes-Maries-de-la-Mer (scene of the annual Gypsy/Roma pilgrimage) is also pretty convenient from Aigues-Mortes as well. Very interesting little town.
I also like Aigues-Mortes better than Carcasonne - smaller, more authentic, fascinating history.
A visit to Les Stes-Maries-de-la-Mer (scene of the annual Gypsy/Roma pilgrimage) is also pretty convenient from Aigues-Mortes as well. Very interesting little town.
#8
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 4,460
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
"Is Aigues-Mortes worth a stop?"
I'm never quite sure how to answer a "worth it" question, especially without some idea of interests.
However, like other posters, we preferred Aigues-Mortes to Carcassone, for many of the same reasons: easy access, easy to navigate, a lovely main square, and above all, interesting history.
If you are prepared to make a side trip as you make your way from Carcassone to les-Baux-de-Provence, a couple of other options would be a visit to Nîmes, for its interesting Roman ruins, or Pont-du-Gard and Uzès. The latter two would be top of my list; the aqueduct is astounding and the town of Uzès is, well, charming. They're not that much further out of your way than Aigues-Mortes.
Anselm
I'm never quite sure how to answer a "worth it" question, especially without some idea of interests.
However, like other posters, we preferred Aigues-Mortes to Carcassone, for many of the same reasons: easy access, easy to navigate, a lovely main square, and above all, interesting history.
If you are prepared to make a side trip as you make your way from Carcassone to les-Baux-de-Provence, a couple of other options would be a visit to Nîmes, for its interesting Roman ruins, or Pont-du-Gard and Uzès. The latter two would be top of my list; the aqueduct is astounding and the town of Uzès is, well, charming. They're not that much further out of your way than Aigues-Mortes.
Anselm
#12
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 78,320
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Aigues-Mortes to me is fantastic - perfectly walled town on the coast.
Saint Louis i guess started one of his Crusades here.
Really neat and different from any other town in France i've been to.
Saint Louis i guess started one of his Crusades here.
Really neat and different from any other town in France i've been to.
#15
Been to both. Preferred Aigue Mortes. Wouldn't go back to Carcassone if I were driving past it. I'd go out of my way to go back to Aigues Mortes.
In my opinion, Carcassone is sort of a French Gatlinburg. Very commercialized. Aigues has commerce, but it's "normal" as opposed to "touristic" commerce.
Aigues is more like a French Savannah.
Anecdote: in Carcassone I stood near a drawbridge looking up at the parapets. Some Carcasson-ian was avidly trying to tell me I had to pay to stand where I was, if not I could not look. I avidly tried to feign no knowledge of French. = Stalemate. Almost as bad as the waiter across from Rocamadour who would, for 5 euro, sell me the paper placement with a picture of the town.
In my opinion, Carcassone is sort of a French Gatlinburg. Very commercialized. Aigues has commerce, but it's "normal" as opposed to "touristic" commerce.
Aigues is more like a French Savannah.
Anecdote: in Carcassone I stood near a drawbridge looking up at the parapets. Some Carcasson-ian was avidly trying to tell me I had to pay to stand where I was, if not I could not look. I avidly tried to feign no knowledge of French. = Stalemate. Almost as bad as the waiter across from Rocamadour who would, for 5 euro, sell me the paper placement with a picture of the town.
#16
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,319
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Both Carcassonne & Aigues Mortes are very old towns.
Carcassonne was (badly) renovated in the 1850's to appear as a Disneylike medieval town.
Aigues Mortes is pretty well original.
Ste Marie has a nice medieval centre, but the main access road can be very busy in summer.
Some photos :
Best summer view of Ste Marie :
http://www.the-languedoc-page.com/ph...-photo-208.htm
which explains why I don't worry about the summer traffic !
More photos of the area :
http://the-languedoc-page.com/photos...hoto-index.htm
Peter
Carcassonne was (badly) renovated in the 1850's to appear as a Disneylike medieval town.
Aigues Mortes is pretty well original.
Ste Marie has a nice medieval centre, but the main access road can be very busy in summer.
Some photos :
Best summer view of Ste Marie :
http://www.the-languedoc-page.com/ph...-photo-208.htm
which explains why I don't worry about the summer traffic !
More photos of the area :
http://the-languedoc-page.com/photos...hoto-index.htm
Peter