Saint-Laurent-d'Aigouze

We can begin the discovery of the city with a listed monument located several kilometers south of the heart of the village, the Carbonnière tower, erected in the 14th century, which secured access to Aigues-Mortes. We no longer pay grants, but from its summit, a superb panorama now awaits visitors... Free access. Information on +33 6 66 88 17 10.

Although the remains of the former Psalmodie abbey cannot be visited (private site), in the town itself, however, several buildings are worth a look.

Like the astonishing municipal arenas which seem to be next to the church, the main square forming the track and the bleachers being framed by shops and public buildings. The whole is typical of "the ethnological interest of the cultural tradition of bouvine in Bas Languedoc", according to the very terms of the Ministry of Culture which has partially classified the arenas. We take the opportunity to visit the Saint-Laurent church, erected in the 18th century on the foundations of a first Romanesque-style church (the nave having been preserved).

To see also, the reformed temple of neoclassical style from the beginning of the 19th century and the castle of Calvières, built in the 17th century and then remodeled in the 19th century, with an orangery, a park and several richly decorated rooms are decorated with painted ceilings (private property). We will not forget the town hall (17th and 18th centuries), which adjoins a hall from the same period, and whose terrace houses a campanile.

In the direction of Aigues-Mortes, the remains of Fort Peccais are worth a detour. A first stage of construction dates from 1598, and it was then a question of monitoring the salt harvested from the surrounding marshes, a then very precious commodity. The fort was enlarged in the 17th century, on the models dear to Vauban.

The landscapes of the Camargue, with horses running free and enclosures reserved for bulls, the exceptional flora and fauna of this unique ecosystem dotted with marshes are the city's other heritage asset.

Discovery and hiking trails for walking or even mountain biking have been designed, and a greenway prohibited to motor vehicles is also available. Documentation, map and information for hikers on +33 6 66 88 17 10.

To deepen your knowledge of Camargue culture, visits to herds (bullfighting, the town now having the label of remarkable site of the taste for its meat of bull), rice fields or even vineyards are possible. Information on +33 6 66 88 17 10.

The stable of Muria (contact on +33 6 63 30 06 80), the Annie pony club (join +33 7 68 72 38 87), among others, are equestrian centers offering horseback riding in this extraordinary territory.

For athletes, a game of tennis on outdoor or indoor courts is possible. Contact the local club on +33 6 09 88 29 15.

• Zoom on the heritage:

• The church and the arenas of the village: At the beginning of 1900, the festival committee decides to close part of the square for the Camargue races. In 1909, the mayor and the priest Martin obtained authorization from the bishopric to lean a toril against the church. In 1946, the arenas were reduced to their current proportions. In the early 2000s, they were rebuilt according to European standards. Currently, covered with wood, they present an open-air museum on their periphery dedicated to the traditions and characters of the Camargue. The church of Saint-Laurent d'Aigouze has been noted since the 12th century. It is then a priory of the neighboring abbey of Psalmodi. Several times destroyed and rebuilt, victim of recurrent interfaith struggles, it is now being restored. The "Thérèse" bell, installed in 2002, is engraved with the town's coat of arms and the Camargue cross.
• The temple: The village temple celebrated its 200th anniversary in 2019. After the Edict of Versailles (1787) which recognized the legal existence of Protestants, many temples were then built in the region. In Saint-Laurent, Protestants represented two-thirds of the population at that time. Built in freestone by the architect Charles-Etienne Durand, its neo-classical facade is typical of the region.
• The Carbonnière tower: Standing in the middle of the marshes, this 13th century tower was an outpost of the medieval city of Aigues-Mortes on the only road to reach the royal city and the salt flats. From the terrace of the tower is offered to you, at 360 degrees, a unique spectacle. Privileged observatory, fitted out with interpretive panels, this haven of peace, mosaic of marshes, hosts little egrets, gray herons, white stilts and many other species of birds. Here the horses and bulls of the Camargue graze quietly. Free entry and discovery trail in the surrounding marshes, open every day of the year.
• The fort of Peccais: This fort, a military construction dating from the 16th century, was built near the salt flats of Aigues-Mortes in order to ensure the surveillance of the harvest and the salt trade over which the king had control. monopoly. Discover the remains of the fort, for a bike ride… at the end of the world! Access is closed to the public, for security and conservation reasons, however the remains can be seen from the footpath with a desk explaining the history of the fort.
• The castle of Calvières: This 14th century castle belonged to the counts of Toulouse then to the abbots of the abbey of Psalmodi. Today it is a private domain. Through the entrance gate (boulevard Alexandra David Néel, in memory of the famous explorer, wife of a Saint-Laurentais, Philippe Néel), you can admire the magnificent park, mainly wooded in the 19th century, which is home to numerous and rare Mediterranean species. Around 1873, when the railway company was considering the Nîmes - Aigues-Mortes route, the then owner, Adolphe Valz, would have given up a passage between this park and the Vidourle river in order to see, at the end of the alley of plane trees, this revolutionary machine… the steam train.

• Focus on activities:

• Nature walks: Immerse yourself in the heart of the countryside, on foot, by bike, in complete freedom on marked paths along the Vidourle river, on the greenways of the canal from the Rhône to Sète (ViaRhôna), accessible to hikers, cyclists, rollerbladers, people with reduced mobility. Also take advantage of the tree climbing and kayak routes on the Vidourle... On horseback, in a horse-drawn carriage, in a 4x4, ideal guided walks to meet the Camargue country.
• The bull is undoubtedly the king of Camargue... Visit the herds which breed Camargue horses and bulls, attend the sorting of cattle, the scrap yards, take part in a Camargue vigil, alongside the herdsmen, with traditional meal and musical entertainment…

• The Terre de Camargue Tourist Office opens to the public from April 1 to September 30:

• In April and May: 9 am to 12:30 pm and 2 pm to 5:30 pm from Monday to Friday.
• In June and September: 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 2 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday to Saturday.
• In July and August: Monday to Saturday 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 3 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. and Sunday 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
• Address: 274 Boulevard Gambetta - Tel. : +33 4 66 77 22 31 - Email: tourisme@terredecamargue.fr

• Market on the square every Monday, Wednesday and Friday morning.
• On July 13, on the occasion of the national holiday, "terroir" evening, the whole village meets in the square, torchlight retreat and fireworks.
• During the second half of August, the votive festival with Camargue races, abrivado, bandido, herdsmen, Arles, music of the peñas, fairground attractions and traditional activities. Celebrate the glory of the bull!