A recent visit by two of my best friends involved a lot of delicious food and wine, so a hike seemed like the right way to keep us in shape. Therefore, I included a trip to the beautiful waterfront forest near Frontignan. Le Bois des Aresquiers is a protected natural site, just a few steps from the tourist hustle and bustle of the Mediterranean beaches. This unique area, nestled between the lagoons of the Étang d’Ingril and the Étang de Vic, is home to a wide variety of flora and fauna.
Extra Loop
After an energizing lunch at Le Poisson Rouge in Frontignan (for those interested), my friends and I drove to the Parking des Aresquiers. The trail started with a sign showing a map and an explanation about the natural site. Yellow signs clearly marked the path, and we initially set out on the short 7 kilometres walk. However, the path was so easy and flat that we decided to add an extra 2 kilometres loop. The hike began with a trail following the Étang d’Ingril, where we first encountered some flamingos. At one point, I thought I spotted pelicans in the distance, which got me all excited. It turned out to be more flamingos, still a treat for my friends!
Wide Biodiversity
Soon enough, we continued the path on a boardwalk. I love boardwalks! Although it wasn’t the kind of boardwalk hike I had in mind, as it was only 20 centimetres above the ground. The boardwalk took us through the former salt marshes of Frontignan, though, covered by small bushes. We also spotted other birds, such as herons, terns, and black-winged stilts. Maybe we saw other species, but that was about the extent of our bird knowledge…. From the boardwalk, the girls and I completed the extra loop around the former salt marshes, Les Salins de Frontignan. The path brought us to what I think was the Mas des Gardes, an abandoned customs office. I could only imagine that up until the Middle Ages, the lagoons of the coastline were connected to each other. They offered merchant vessels strong protection against pirates and bad weather.
La Fontaine des Aresquiers
Times have certainly changed, as we only encountered a few fellow hikers and bikers. Salt was already being harvested here in Roman times, or so they say. Over time, Frontignan produced no less than 10,000 tons of salt per year! The salt marshes closed in 1968. Ten years later, they were transformed into one of the largest natural sites along the Mediterranean coastline. Today, the former salins and the Aresquiers forest cover almost 260 ha of protected nature reserve with a unique ecosystem. No more pirates in sight. After finishing the loop, we retraced our steps for a short distance before following the signs into a pine forest. No birds here, but shade, horses, and ‘La Fontaine des Aresquiers’, a stone shelter and drinking trough for sheep. In total, we walked for about 3 hours, covering 9 kilometres. Well worth the effort and we all agreed that we deserved a nice dinner! After all, walking gives you an appetite…
