Aigues-Mortes et St Maries de la mer

A day to discover the Camargue and its characteristic fauna: flamand-rose, bulls, horses.

Ponds mix with grounds or the contrary. Men raise rice, salt and grape. Two cities symbolise this region: Aigues-Mortes, and its fortifications, was an ancient lighthouse during the crusades and it was also used as religious jail during the french religion wars. The second city that represents the region is Les Saintes Maries with its fortified roman church, place of pilgrinage on the way of St Jack.

Program:
Departure 9am
Morning: Discovery of the salt-mine " du midi" and its salty dunes "camelles". Seesighting of fortifications by bus. Visit of the city avec the ancient Constance tower, ancient lighthouse in the XII century and then religious protestant jail.

(View on the medieval Camargue). Walk on the fortified wall of the XIII century. Regional specialities tasting at a local cookies factory that makes cookies filled chocolate, almonds, coconut, strawberries...Promenade sur les remparts datant du XIIIème siècle.
Midday: Possibility to have lunch in a typical restaurant where you will be the occasion to taste lots of specialities of the region such as "les tellines" (seashell) rice and "beef gardian" (menu from 12 euros).

After lunch: Seesighting of the village of St Maries de la mer with its roman fortified church built in XI century. It was a common step during the St Jack pilgrinage (listed in the Unesco World heritage). The pilgrims came here to pray the relics of St Maries (Marie Jacobée: Jesus aunt and Marie Salomé: Jack and John apostles' mother. Also the Giypsy community meets here to give honor to their patron St Sara. View on the top of the church on the city and sea. Free time on the beach.

Afternoon: tasting of the wine rosé of "sables" (from Camargue) and bull sausage.
Return 6.30pm