Best things to do in La Grande-Motte

Le Parc Ornithologique de Pont de Gau dedicates 60 hectares (148 acres) to the wild fauna and flora of the region. This park began as a zoo in 1949, and has since become an ornithological park. You'll see flamingoes, herons, storks, egrets, teals, raptors, passerines, and other small waders. The information panels will give you details about the birds and the general concepts of ornithology. The park also includes large aviaries housing disabled birds.

Well-preserved medieval city walls, including Tours et Remparts d'Aigues-Mortes, surround this small French town. The Tower of Constance is one of the most famous examples of 13th-century Western European military architecture in the marshlands. It was designed to provide warning signals in case of invading fleets and to offer a spiritual headquarters for clergy. Look for the ground-floor guardroom with protective portcullis, a cellar with a pantry and ammunition storage, and dungeons. The structure also includes the Knight's Hall. Take in the views of the region from the terrace. The ramparts stretch for a distance of 1,650 m (138 ft).

A large aquarium complex and education center, Seaquarium is home to more than 2,000 fish and dozens of species of sharks, sea lions, seals, and other large aquatic animals. Residents also include octopuses, eels, stingrays, jellyfish, nautilus, crabs, lobsters, and turtles. Immerse yourself in an undersea world with the museum and interactive learning displays. The Requinarium section features more than 30 species of live sharks, plus information on all 350 species of sharks around the world.

Notre Dame de la Mer - Église fortifiée is a single, straight, unadorned nave 15 m (50 ft) high. The church once held an important strategic position--it towers over the village and is visible from as far as 10 km (6.2 mi). The roof of the church served as a watchtower, and is surrounded by a rampart walk with battlements and machicolations. The choir and the apse are topped by a semicircular keep housing the former guards’ room, known as the upper chapel. The church was a refuge for the inhabitants of the city, and there was even a fresh-water well inside. To the right of the altar, in the crypt, you can see a statue of St. Sara, a major figure of the Roma (or gypsy) cultural tradition. Don't miss a pagan altar dating from the fourth century BCE.

With a foundation dating back to 102 BCE, Salin d'Aigues-Mortes is a seaside commune surrounded by well-preserved medieval city walls. It's also home to the Tower of Constance, built on the site of the former Matafère Tower that Charlemagne constructed in 790 CE. Despite the town's origins, most of the existing structures were created during the Middle Ages. Explore several structures designed by various monarchs, as well as the location where 45 Templars were imprisoned and tried. You also can visit the Chapel of the Gray Penitents, Chapel of the White Penitents, the Church of Notre-Dame-des-Sablons, and Saint-Louis Square, which contains the famous statue of Saint-Louis.

Golf de la Grande-Motte features two 18-hole courses as well as a nine-hole option where you can experience scenic beauty, accessibility, and a combination of peaceful surroundings and challenging play. The grounds feature water hazards and numerous bunkers, as well as a driving range, putting green, and practice bunker. It is a good site for perfecting your game and proving your skills; one of the courses has even been used on the European Tour.