WINE ROUTE - VINEYARDS BY THE SEA

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New town, whose soul is inspired by the strong symbolism of the pyramid. A unique and remarkable ensemble bearing the prestigious 20th-century Heritage label. A true garden city, with its 385 hectares of green spaces to be discovered along its 20 km of pedestrian walkways at the heart of the vintage curves of the town center. At the time, the avant-garde style of its architecture was jarring, but today everyone recognizes its majesty, especially the visitor arriving from the sea. To complete this privileged environment, 7 km of fine sandy beach, a marina, and the Ponant pond. From La Grande Motte - Take direction "Point Zero/Golf/Ponant/Le Grau du Roi." You enter the Gard department. Follow "Other directions." At the 2nd roundabout, take "Nîmes, Aigues-Mortes" D62. At the next roundabout, take "Le Grau du Roi left bank/ Port Camargue." The road crosses the ponds. Here is the moment for photos to keep a memory of the natural spaces of the Petite Camargue: bulls, horses, pink flamingos, and other migratory birds!

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A very active fishing port, it opens a 'grau' (a passage) from the sea to the port of Aigues-Mortes. Renowned seaside resort, thanks to its 18 km of fine sandy beaches, it hosts the largest marina in Europe: Port Camargue. This charming resort keeps its sea-oriented traditions intact. Don't miss the Graulinades in April, the Saint-Pierre festival in June... Many water activities await you throughout the year. Espiguette beach is one of the most beautiful dune systems in the Mediterranean. A spectacular natural environment, a "Classified Site" since 1998, it offers a strong ecological footprint and magnificent swimming waters. The beach consists of white dunes characteristic of deserts. In the middle stands a lighthouse, built at the end of the 19th century, classified as a Historic Monument. On the road to Espiguette, the French Institute of Vine and Wine is dedicated to research. In this vineyard, a national conservatory of vine varieties, the teams work on the evolution of wine production. Nearby, the Mediterranean Wine House, the work of architect Joseph Massota, specializes in the sale of wines and regional products. Resume the road to Espiguette heading towards Aigues-Mortes. At the roundabout, follow the road along the canal to the right. Before reaching the medieval city, the route skirts agricultural lands of two emblematic Camargue productions: salt and IGP Sable de Camargue wine. The proximity of the sea, the climate, and the geomorphology of this territory have allowed the development of atypical products since the Middle Ages. The tremendous economic development linked to the establishment of the city of Aigues-Mortes encouraged these productions. The wines produced: GRIS and GRIS DE GRIS, specialties of this terroir, are unique wines characterized by their finesse and delicacy reflecting the soils of the "IGP Sable de Camargue" terroir. The Domaine Royal de Jarras vineyard has a unique curiosity in France: grenache vines with original rootstock, survivors of the phylloxera epidemic. The estate covers more than 900 hectares, an unlikely jewel of the alchemy between nature and man. It can also be visited by small train, and the site visit is very pleasant in summer.

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"Never anywhere have I spent such pleasant days" Charles V. The medieval city (13th century) of Aigues-Mortes invites you to travel through time. It was born from King Louis IX's (Saint Louis) desire to have a port on the Mediterranean. Two crusades departed from Aigues-Mortes in 1248 and 1270. It remained the first French port on the Mediterranean until the annexation of the Marseille port to the Kingdom of France in 1481. With its geometric plan, crenellated ramparts, towers, and fortified gates, the fortress built 700 years ago is an admirably preserved model of military architecture. A magnificent citadel raised between sky and earth, on a marshy plain, Aigues-Mortes is first contemplated from afar. The ramparts reflected in the salt pond, like a mirage, is a sublime spectacle constantly renewed by changes in light. "Like a large ship stranded on the sand," wrote Chateaubriant. The Constance Tower, completed in 1248, is a masterpiece of defense. From the 17th century, it served as a prison for Huguenots. Marie Durand was imprisoned there for over 38 years. Not to be missed: the Notre-Dame-des-Sablons church, where light filters through contemporary stained glass windows by Claude Viallat. The visit to towers and ramparts (paid entrance and varying schedules depending on the season), the baroque chapels of the grey and white penitents (opening periods and hours vary). The Grand Site of France Camargue Gard region House located on a "Classified Site" open from February to September inclusive (open for groups with guided visits in winter), with a permanent exhibition presenting the Camargue domesticated by man and a walking interpretation trail. From Aigues-Mortes, reach La Grande Motte by taking the D62 expressway along the northern edge of the Ponant pond.

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