In the heart of the Camargue, the medieval city of Aigues-Mortes is renowned for its well-preserved medieval architecture, impressive ramparts, and salt marshes. While many visit the Salin d’Aigues-Mortes for a few hours, few take the opportunity to stay for a few days. En route for a unique stay at the heart of the Salin d’Aigues-Mortes…
A Total Immersion in the Salin
The welcome for Nuits Salines is at the boutique of the Salin d’Aigues-Mortes. At first glance, it can be a bit overwhelming. With little train departures, souvenir shop customers, and ice cream orders all around, it was hard to know where to look first.
Once we received the explanations and keys at the reception, we got back in the car and followed the marked signs through the salt marshes.
In front of the famous salt mountain, the little train waits for visitors who admire the view from the top.
Leaving the visitors behind, we continued along the canal. On the left, a small stone house seems to hide behind a tree. Here we are!
A Tiny House with a View
Until the 1950s, the salt workers responsible for opening and closing the valves allowing seawater to enter the ponds lived in small houses scattered across the salin. The mas Colomina was one of them. When it comes to immersion…
Crossing a small metal bridge, we arrived at the mas, isolated on a plot of land between the pink ponds. In the distance, the ramparts of Aigues-Mortes.
We climbed a few steps to enter the house. The interior space (40m²) is divided into a bedroom with two single beds, a bathroom with a shower, and a main room with a fully equipped kitchen, a living area with a sofa bed, and a dining area. The furnishings are simple and comfortable. Everything has been renovated and it shows.
Taking the time to unpack and store our groceries, a beautiful light invited us outside for an aperitif with a view of the ramparts and a splendid sunset…
Exclusive Access to the Salin
Spending the night in the Salin offers several advantages. The first, and not least, is living close to the surrounding wildlife. Upon waking up, flamingos are everywhere around us.
You can also move freely around the Salin outside public opening hours. The salt mountain is ours before the visitors arrive 🙂
Renting the mas also provides unlimited access to the various Salin trails and the Gracieuse beach, about 30 kilometers away.
First, we tested the 12-kilometer circuit passing in front of the Aigues-Mortes ramparts. A pleasant ride, with no particular difficulty for a family on bikes.
The circuit to the Gracieuse beach, however, was a different story 😅
Although well-marked and maintained, cycling 30 kilometers (non-electric) with children and headwind is quite sporty 😂 But the landscapes are splendid, and every flamingo sighting is an opportunity to rest for a few minutes before moving on…
After a picnic in a wooden hut worthy of Robinson Crusoe, we enjoyed a beautiful deserted beach.
With a bit of wind at our backs and the promise of a good aperitif, the return was easy… A bike ride with only the sound of the wind and birds is quite magical 🤩
And what about that sunset…
Cabins by the Pink Waters
Nuits Salines also features picturesque waterside cabins. The simple and modern architecture blends harmoniously with the local ecosystem, and large bay windows provide stunning views of the pink ponds of the Salin.
The cabins are not very large (15 or 20m²) but offer all the necessary comfort for couples looking to disconnect for a weekend. For total immersion with the surrounding nature, the cabins do not have wifi or television.
Good to Know
- Les Nuits Salines offers two-night minimum stays from April to November, with the exception of Monday to Thursday, subject to availability.
- Prices from €130 per night for cabins (maximum 2 adults per cabin)
- For more information on what to do in and around Aigues-Mortes, click here.
