I'll be spending a couple of weeks in France this spring, the second for work in Montpellier, but the first at a thalassotherapy spa in Port Camargue. Travel can't really get much slower than a thalassotherapy cure, frankly, but I am looking for some half day trips (cures occupy either the morning or the afternoon of each day) for a bit of a change.

I'd appreciate any suggestions. I'll be dependent on the train (hoping that the walk from the Mercure in Port Camargue to the gare in Le Grau du Roi is a pleasant one), which passes through Aigues Mortes on its way to Nimes.

Well, you must definitely take that train to both Aigues-Mortes and Nîmes and spend a half day in each. I think the square in Aigues-Mortes is one of the most beautiful in France. And if you can find a way to get there, you must have lunch or dinner at La Chassagnette restaurant in Sambuc - an incredible dining experience of "small dishes" of the region.

I don't know much about the regional trains in that area, but you can do a search on www.sncf.com and plug in some of the logical places you might want to visit: Arles, Sète. Sainte-Marie de la Maire, Avignon, etc.

Thanks for the endorsement re Aigues-Mortes. Some say it's too touristy, but then presumably with good reason. And I'll be there mid-week and mid-season.

I've been to Nimes before (and may repeat the visit). Other destinations that I'm familiar with (Arles, Avignon, Sete, etc.) are a bit too far to reach by train since I'm limited to a half day and there don't seem to be any late trains returning to Le Grau du Roi.

Do you (or anybody) know of a site which actually shows the rail lines and the stations along them? I've not been able to get this info at the sncf site (despite using the French version), but maybe it's hiding in plain site.

Looks like Lunel will work. Any past visitors?

Hi

Lunel has a pleasant medieval centre.
Once a port, Lunel has become rather run down and is in the course of renovation. It has markets on Thursday & Saturday.

Lots of info and photos of this region on my site at http://tlp.netfirms.com ***url fixed***

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Colleen,

Thanks for the info, Peter. Nice web site, though it's giving me a bit of headache wishing I could move to France...