Aigues-Mortes
Aigues-Mortes is found in the Languedoc-Roussillon region, 8 kilometres from the coast. The town is quite remote on the southern edge of the Camargue region of France, and is the only significant town to fall in the Camargue region.
Aigues-Mortes (dramatically named after 'dead waters') was founded by King Louis IX (later to become Saint Louis) in 1240, in preparation for his setting off for the Seventh (and Eighth) Crusade. The main legacy from this time is the Constance Tower, now part of the fortifications that surround the town - the castle of which the tower formed a part is no longer in existence.
The 1600 metres of fortified walls themselves were constructed later in the 13th century, by Phillippe III and Phillippe IV, and completely surround the town, interrupted at regular intervals by towers that had various functions - salt storage, munitions, etc.
Outside the walls there is little to hold your attention - mostly the 'newer' town of Aigues-Mortes and salt plains - your visit will focus on the old town within the walls.
The pretty Place St Louis is the centre of old Aigues-Mortes, with the Town Hall, a church, a statue of the venerable Saint Louis and a good selection of cafes and restaurants.
The surrounding streets that radiate off the square will entice you to explore further, where you will find many beautifully preserved medieval houses. The further you get from the centre, the less touristic (and less attractive) the town becomes.
The other big attraction for visitors is the chance to walk around the ramparts and explore the Constance Tower. There is only one access point to the ramparts and tower (with paid entry) so once you enter you have little choice but to walk the entire 1600 metres.
The Constance Tower is the highlight, with a couple of large impressive vaulted rooms - and used as a prison for protestants in the 17th century. The best views over Aigues-Mortes are from the terrace on top of the tower.
The ramparts are interesting to walk around - the function of each tower is explained, and you can see across the town itself, and out across the sea. The parts of the town within the fortified walls that are next to the ramparts are not especially beautiful however so the walk was a bit of a disappointment (6.50 euros per adult).
Market days in Aigues-Mortes are Wednesday and Sunday.
The fortifications at Aigues-Mortes are a listed National Monument - see Aigues-Mortes visitor information for admission prices and opening hours etc
Nearby
If you would like to learn more about the salt flats and the industry they support, you can take an excursion from Aigues-Mortes (bus or tourist train) to learn more about the techniques involved. Another popular excursion is to to see the sharks and tropical fish at the Sea aquarium at nearby Le Grau-de-Roi.
See also our pictures of Aigues-Mortes
Visit Aigues-Mortes (Languedoc-Roussillon, Gard) travel, gites and hotels
Best Prices on Hotels in Aigues-Mortes - Guaranteed
(see guarantee details) Reserve online, pay at the hotel
The Aigues-Mortes hotels listed feature descriptions, guest reviews, ratings, location maps, online booking etc. as well as the 'best-price' guarantee. The search for hotels in Aigues-Mortes is provided by booking.com. General holiday / vacation options- See Languedoc-Roussillon gites for Aigues-Mortes holiday rentals - Holiday villages in Languedoc-Roussillon Holidays nearbyLooking for something close by? See a wide choice of hotels, holiday villages and holiday rentals at: Places to Stay near Aigues-Mortes VisitSee Visit Aigues-Mortes for places to visit near Aigues-Mortes including: a detailed map, villages in bloom and most beautiful villages DiscussAsk questions or leave a comment about Aigues-Mortes in our Languedoc-Roussillon forum Airports near Aigues-MortesAvignon airport at 87 km Marseille airport at 114 km Montpellier airport at 25 km Nimes airport at 32 km Aigues-Mortes property for saleSee Languedoc-Roussillon property for sale
|
|
||||||||||||
Tourist Classifications for Aigues-Mortes
- approved Station Classée (resort paying particular attention to facilities for tourism)
Places to visit near Aigues-Mortes, France
Explore places of interest within about 70 kilometres on a map at places near Aigues-Mortes.
Some places to visit within 30 km: 
12 km: La Grande-Motte (Beach resort) 25 km: Montpellier airport (airport) 32 km: Nimes airport (airport) 29 km: Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer (Camargue town)
See also Aigues-Mortes (version Francais)
