Exploring The Medieval Walled City Of Aigues-Mortes In France With Kids
Once we’d reached our first destination in the South of France we were staying at a Eurocamp Site called La Marine which is based in the seaside town of Grau du Roi. And the nearest city to this town is the iconic Medieval walled city of Aigues-Mortes, which we were all very excited to explore.
It’s not a full-day attraction, but it’s the perfect mix of history, sightseeing, and fun for the kids. It’s the perfect place to stop if you’re planning to visit the Camargue Regional Nature Park (to see the famous flamingos too.) We stopped to see the flamingos on the way to Aigues-Mortes and then followed our visit up by going back to base and spending the rest of the afternoon in the La Marine waterpark!
So what did we get up to while we were there? What is there to see and do in Aigues-Mortes? Here’s everything you need to know:
- A Brief History of Aigues-Mortes
- Walking The City Walls In Aigues-Mortes
- The Heart of the Town
- Practical Tips For Visiting Aigues-Mortes With Kids
- Our Verdict: Is Aigues-Mortes Worth Visiting With Kids?
- Further Reading
Heads up! This post may contain affiliate links, which means if you click and make a purchase, I might earn a very small commission – at no extra cost to you. This helps to keep the blog going. Thanks for the support!
A Brief History of Aigues-Mortes
As well as being the name of the city, Aigues-Mortes translates in French to mean “dead waters” or “stagnant waters”, which is a reference to the marshlands and salt pools that surround the city (the salt lends this waters a pink tinge which the region is so famous for).
My boys were most interested in the role that Aigues-Mortes played in crusade history. And it’s worth noting that this is hands-down the most fascinating town in Southern France. Because not only does it look so stunningly beautiful (and unusual!) it also played an incredibly important role in France’s history.
The walled city of Aigues-Mortes was founded in the 13th century by King Louis IX. He wanted to have his own port on the Mediterranean that wasn’t controlled by rival nations. Once the city of Aigues-Mortes was established, King Louis IX used it to set sail on two Crusades, which is why Louis IX is still such an important influence in the town. There are statues and references to him everywhere, and as you walk the walls there are signs and interactive exhibits explaining the Crusade history of the city.
The city walls stretch for over 1.6 miles, and they were built originally to protect the settlement. Nowadays, they are considered one of the best examples of a medieval fortification in Europe! The best thing to do here is that you can walk along the ramparts and get epic views both into and out from the city.
Walking The City Walls In Aigues-Mortes
Despite being a Medieval construction, the city walls of Aigues-Mortes are still intact, and you can buy a ticket that will give you access to the city museum AND to walk all the way around these walls, which was by far the highlight of our visit. Both the adults and the boys LOVED this experience.
It took us around an hour and a half to walk all the way around the walls, stopping to enjoy the views and read the informational signs. If you were in a hurry, you could certainly pick up the pace and walk the walls in around an hour.
You can buy tickets from the box office to walk the walls on the day, but during the peak season (especially in the summer holidays) the queues to buy tickets can be long.
It’s much easier to buy your tickets in advance, and then you can go straight to through to the entrance with no lines! We bought our tickets from Klook the night before we visited, and the whole thing was super easy and straight forward!
👉 Click here to check availability and book your tickets with Klook
🎁 Use the code THATMUMTRAVEL5KLOOK to get an additional 5% off ticket prices
The Heart of the Town
After we’d finished exploring the walls we headed into the heart of the walled city to take a well-deserved break. We ate ice cream under the trees, where we could see the walls from ground level, and it was such a lovely experience.
From here, we wandered along the main commercial street which has a lovely mix of shops.
You’ll find traditional tourist shops where you can buy keyrings and magnets, but there are also lovely independent boutiques selling clothes and unusual jewellery that I loved exploring. The boys found a beautiful wooden toy shop, and we all enjoyed exploring the locally sourced food stores that included chocolates and locally produced wines too.
Practical Tips For Visiting Aigues-Mortes With Kids
Honestly, what makes Aigues Mortes so appealing is that, once you’ve got your tickets for the walls, you can just turn up and go! But if you like to be prepared, then following these practical tips could help your day to go even more smoothly:
- Bring plenty of water: if you’re walking the full stretch of the walls on a hot summer’s day, you’ll spend a lot of time out in the sunshine. It got really hot and sweaty! So bring reusable and refillable water bottles for the family (we use these ones).
- Don’t forget sun protection. As you can see, we’re all wearing sun lotion, sun hats and/or sunglasses. The sun bouncing off those salt marshes is no joke, so don’t underestimate it.
👉 Shop kids sun hats on Amazon - Opt for comfortable footwear. Walking sandals or trainers are the order of the day. Even in my comfiest of shoes I managed to fall and stumble on the very uneven cobbles….twice! If you’ve got babies or toddlers then I suggest a toddler carrier like this one – the walls aren’t accessible with a buggy and the ground is dangerously uneven for little legs.
- Make time to explore the main squares. After the history and the sightseeing, this is a great place to relax, enjoy a coffee (or an ice cream for the kids) and just appreciate the beauty of the place.
Our Verdict: Is Aigues-Mortes Worth Visiting With Kids?
Honestly, we had such a great time in Aigues-Mortes! It’s so unusual and was one of my highlights of our stay in the area. The boys loved walking around the walls, peering through the arrow slits and imagining themselves as medieval knights. It’s the kind of place where history comes alive, but because it’s so compact, it isn’t an overwhelming place to explore.
The small city centre is beautiful and there are lots of lovely places to stop to eat too, so it’s a great place to stop for lunch: my boys would go back for the delicious ice cream alone! If you’re visiting the South of France and want to do something a little different away from the ubiquitous beaches then I definitely recommend a visit to Aigues Mortes.
Further Reading
Will you be visiting this part of France on your travel adventures? It’s a beautiful and unexpected region that has so much more to offer than just sandy Mediterranean beaches. Here’s some further reading of other experiences and attractions we enjoyed as part of our trip:
🐟 Visiting The Seaquarium Grau-du-Roi in France: What to Expect on your Visit
🏛 Visiting Dijon With Kids. What We Did On Our Day in Dijon, France
🎡 Our Parc Asterix Review. The Ultimate Family Guide To Park Asterix: Rides, Food, and Tips
Have you visited Aigues-Mortes or what you like to visit? I’d love to know what you think!
WANT MORE POSTS LIKE THIS STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX? HIT SUBSCRIBE BELOW
Heads up! This post may contain affiliate links, which means if you click and make a purchase, I might earn a very small commission – at no extra cost to you. This helps to keep the blog going. Thanks for the support!
3 Comments