by Janis / 0 comments - Orginally published:4th November 2025
A medieval treat in Camargue
The next overnight stay on our amazing French road trip is in Sète in Occitania, southwest of Saint-Remy-de-Provence. However, we’re not heading there directly, as we’ve stumbled upon the magnificent Medieval walled city of Aigues-Mortes.
During our EV French road trip, we have kept to the back roads of France as much as possible. After rolling off Le Shuttle at Calais, we visited the delightful medieval towns of Provins in Île-de-France and Semur-en-Auxois in Bourgogne-Franche-Comté. We explored Sisteron, located at the foot of the breath-taking Rocher de la Baume in Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, and also visited Antibes on the Mediterranean coast.
Oh yes, we couldn’t miss out on staying at one of our favourite places in France, Saint-Remy-de-Provence. From here, we headed off on a mini road trip to experience seven more Provence towns and villages.
Why not Pin it for later?
We have one night in Sète, and then we hit the road again, heading back north to Albi, Bergerac, Poitiers, and Le Mans.
Did you catch our inspiration for this French road trip?
Where is Aigues-Mortes?
How to get to Aigues-Mortes
- By Car
Departing from the UK to France, there are various options. You can either jump on Le Shuttle and arrive in Calais in 35 minutes or enjoy a leisurely cruise on the open waves with Brittany Ferries, DFDS or P&O.
- By Air
If you’re flying into France, search for your flights within your preferred travel search engine for your favoured routes and chosen dates. Pre-book your hire car from Rental Cars, and your adventure begins.
Stay informed
You will find us across many forms of social media. You will find our latest posts, some throwbacks, links to historic events with our 'On this day' posts, across Facebook, X, Bluesky & Threads. Each week, themed visual content on Instagram, and our narrated travels on YouTube. Collections of the images in our posts are also collated into boards on Pinterest.
Brief history of Aigues-Mortes
From Marshlands to Royal FortAigues-Mortes, in the Camargue region of southern France, is one of the best-preserved medieval fortified towns in Europe, a remarkable survivor of France’s early maritime ambitions. Its name comes from the Latin Aquae Mortuae, meaning “dead waters,” a reference to the stagnant marshes and lagoons that once surrounded it.
Statue of Saint Louis
Lanes of Aigues-Mortes
Aigues-Mortes is situated on the junction of the Canal du Rhône à Sète and the Chenal Maritime to Le Grau-du-Roi. The Medieval fortification had originally been a small hamlet of fishermen and salt gatherers, but had little settlement due to its marshy isolation.
In 1240, King Louis IX (Saint Louis) purchased the land and began transforming Aigues-Mortes into a royal port. At the time, France’s Mediterranean coast was limited, Provence belonged to the Holy Roman Empire, and Languedoc had only a small stretch of shoreline. Louis wanted a direct outlet to the sea under royal control.
13th-century ramparts
History encircled the town’s 1640m² of quadrilateral city walls, comprising of six prestigious towers, including the famous Constance Tower and ten gates, still standing today, almost perfectly intact.
If like us, you love visiting different regions of France, then this 'DK Eyewitness Road Trips France' guide will definitely assist in your planning.
We regularly use DK travel guides, and this book is ideal for cross-country road trips through France. Grab yourself a recently revised edition and start plotting your route.
Where to stay in Aigues-Mortes
Hôtel ibis budget Sète Centre
The Hôtel ibis budget Sète Centre is a comfortable hotel that offers ample parking, making it an ideal choice for road trips. The hotel is around a 10 to 15-minute walk to Quai Général Durand.
Free parking is available onsite, with chargeable EV facilities.
Ambling the lanes of Aigues-Mortes
History around every cornerWe parked near the Cordelier Gate along the eastern wall of Aigues-Mortes. As we strolled through the vast Porte des Cordeliers, it was remarkably peaceful, and we caught a glimpse of everyday life amidst these quaint streets and imposing walls.
Porte des Cordeliers, Aigues-Mortes
Porte des Cordeliers derives its name from the “Cordeliers” (or Friars Minor), a Franciscan order. The historic gate features typical medieval stonework within the curtain of the ramparts. This area of Aigues-Mortes was incredibly tranquil and was so lovely to amble through.
Quite street of Rue Roger Salengro
Strolling the historic lanes
One charming square that we stumbled upon was Place de la Viguerie, and once again, it was so peaceful. The history within the ancient walls of Aigues-Mortes is astounding. The beautiful Chapel of the Grey Penitents, located on the edge of the square, was established in 1400 and features a façade in the style of Louis XIV.
Place de la Viguerie
Its sister chapel, the Chapelle des Pénitents blancs is just a few streets away along Rue de la République and was created in 1622 by the Brotherhood of the White Penitents.
France Tourist Information
If you’re tempted to tour France and discover all the delightful things it has to offer, take a peek at the official French Tourism website. The local tourist offices dotted around the towns and cities provide some extremely useful information and handy pointers for around each region.
Relaxing in Place Saint Louis
Awash with Medieval allureAs we wend our way closer to the delightful main square of Place Saint-Louis, we stroll to the Church of Notre-Dame-des-Sablons. The Gothic-style church is believed to have been built prior to the ramparts in the mid-13th-century, during the time of Saint-Louis.
Place Saint Louis
As you can imagine, this stunning medieval city can become quite busy at times; however, it is easy to see why. Aigues-Mortes is full of so much character and charm, it’s a delightful place to stroll around, and the main square makes a perfect place to sit and watch the world pass by.
Dappled lanes in Aigues-Mortes
The bustling bars in Place Saint Louis
Wandering through the dappled cobbled streets is incredibly picturesque, and you only have to walk a couple of streets back and you’re alone with your thoughts once more.
Never far from the ramparts
Louis IX departed from Aigues-Mortes for two of his crusades, the Seventh Crusade in 1248 and his final Eighth Crusade in 1270, during which he died near Tunis. The port became the main embarkation point for crusaders and pilgrims, bustling with merchants, sailors, and soldiers.
I love nothing more than planning a trip through France and so often I use the DK Eyewitness books. I find them extremely informative, easy to follow and the pictures and maps tempt you into discovering more.
We used a previous version of this book to plan our French road trips, now you can grab the revised copy.
The charm of Aigues-Mortes
Tour de ConstanceWe step out of the medieval city through Porte de la Gardette to admire the incredible architecture from the exterior. It truly is a marvel that the majority of the ancient towers, walls, and turrets have survived from the 13th-century.
Porte de la Gardette
I suggest you take the time to stroll all around the ramparts, as the views are beautiful, and you’ll also gain a different perspective of the 1640m quadrilateral city walls and their regimented street pattern.
The Tour de Constance, originally constructed as a watchtower in the 1240s, later served various roles, including lighthouse, royal garrison post, and prison. Its thick circular walls and rooftop views are among the highlights of the fortress.
The Tower of Constance
Like other towers in the town, from 1686 onwards, the Constance Tower was used as a prison for the Protestant Huguenots who refused to convert to Roman Catholicism.
The bridge to Tour de Constance
The Tour de Constance held many prisoners, including the most notable Marie Durand, who was confined there for 38 years for her faith at the age of 19. She famously scratched the word “Résister” (“Resist”) into the edge of the stone well, which is still visible today.
We loved visiting the ancient Medieval city of Aigues-Mortes and highly recommend it for all you history lovers.
Crit'Air vignette required for driving in France
If you’re heading to France from the UK with your own vehicle, you’ll need a Crit’Air ‘clean air’ car sticker.
Just like our low-emission zones in the UK, France now legally requires the display of a Crit’Air vignette. The good news is, these stickers are readily available and affordable online through the official French government website.
The Crit’Air sticker lasts the lifetime of the vehicle, so it’s a one-off purchase. The RAC website offers an in-depth guide to everything you need to know and your requirements.
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