France: Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer

Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer is a small town on the Mediterrainean shore of Provence and in the heart of the Camargue region, which is basically the delta of the river Rhine and is an endless landscape of marshes and lakes. The town is on sandy ground but is surrounded by water pretty much all around. The main attraction here is the 9th century church and fortress in one. People would hide in it when different invaders (first Vikings and later Saracens) came and pretty much survive inside (there is a well in the church). It’s a beautiful building and you can climb on the rooftop for panoramic views of the town, the sea, and the Camargue swampland. Two significant relics where found hidden in the church; coincidentally the Black Plague spared the town in its entirety. Go figure!