The history of Aigues-Mortes

From the Origins to the “Dead Waters”

Occupied since antiquity by the Greeks and Romans, the site of Aigues-Mortes was already a centre of salt production. Pottery, coins, and archaeological remains bear witness to this history.

In the 5th century, Benedictine monks founded the Psalmody Abbey in the middle of the lagoons. A place of prayer and work, it lived from fishing and salt exploitation. However, Saracen invasions and debts weakened the community, which eventually ceded its lands in the 13th century.

It was during this period that the name Aquae Mortuae (“dead waters”) appeared, referring to these stagnant water areas.

The Will of Saint Louis

In 1240, Louis IX, the future Saint Louis, negotiated the acquisition of the territory from the Benedictines. The king, who at the time had no Mediterranean port, saw a unique opportunity to open his kingdom to the sea and to the Crusades.

From 1241 onwards, construction work began :

• layout of the streets,
• construction of the Church of Notre-Dame des Sablons,
• construction of the Constance Tower (1239–1250).

Since stone was absent from the marshy soil, it was transported by boat from Beaucaire and Les Baux.

Aigues-Mortes and the Crusades

In 1248, Saint Louis departed from Aigues-Mortes for the Seventh Crusade. The crusaders boarded large two-decked cargo ships known as nefs huissières, which were heavy and uncomfortable. Overcrowding, diseases, and rats were part of the journey, which sometimes lasted up to three months.

In 1270, the king set sail again for the Eighth Crusade but died near Tunis from typhus.

The Fortified Enclosure

In 1266, Saint Louis planned the construction of the Aigues-Mortes ramparts, financed by a tax on goods passing through the port. However, his death in 1270 interrupted the project before its completion.

His son, Philip III the Bold, restarted the work in 1272 with the support of Genoese financier Guillaume Boccanegra, who provided funding and expertise to build the Tour Carbonnière, the city’s defensive walls, and the port. After his death, construction slowed again, leaving some structures partially unfinished.

In 1285, Philip IV the Fair resumed and completed the ramparts. Twenty years after the city’s foundation, Aigues-Mortes was surrounded by a perfectly designed quadrangular wall, marked by monumental gates and defensive towers.

Decline of the Port and Periods of Unrest

From the 14th century onwards, silting and the clogging of waterways gradually led to the decline of the port, which faced competition from Marseille.

The following centuries were marked by conflicts :

• 15th century : betrayal of Governor Malpuë and massacre of the Burgundians.
• 16th century : Protestant pillaging in 1575, followed by Aigues-Mortes becoming a Huguenot stronghold, later retaken in 1622 by Louis XIII.
• 17th century : repression of the Huguenots, with prisons established in the towers.

Revolution and the 19th Century

The French Revolution transformed the city and its religious buildings :

• the Church of Notre-Dame des Sablons became a barracks,
• the White Penitents Chapel served as a headquarters for the sans-culottes,
• the Grey Penitents Chapel was converted into a fodder storage warehouse.

At the beginning of the 19th century, buildings were gradually returned to religious use or bought by private owners. The city slowly regained its vitality, adapting to economic changes and new commercial and industrial needs.

• 1806 : opening of the Rhône to Sète canal, linking Aigues-Mortes to major trade routes and improving goods transport.
• 1842 : severe flooding affected the city, highlighting the vulnerability of this alluvial territory.
• 1856 : creation of the Compagnie des Salins du Midi, which organised and structured salt production, a major regional resource.
• 1870-1895 : growth of Vin des Sables wine production, as vines planted in the sandy soil escaped phylloxera and brought wine-making fame to Aigues-Mortes.

From the 20th Century to Today

In 1903, the ramparts were listed as a historical monument. Tourism began to develop significantly following the introduction of paid holidays in 1936.

The Church of Notre-Dame des Sablons was restored and fitted with contemporary stained-glass windows created by Claude Viallat in 1991.

Today, Aigues-Mortes remains a vibrant town : a major historical site and gateway to the Camargue, where bull traditions, salt production, and vineyards preserve a unique heritage. Its ramparts, among the best preserved in Europe, stand majestically in the middle of the Camargue marshes, recalling the town’s strategic role and rich past. Between salt production, Vin des Sables vineyards, Camargue customs, and medieval architecture, the city continues to combine history and daily local life.

History at the heart of the present

Aigues-Mortes is not only a testament to the past : it is a place where history, culture, and local life meet every day.

Protecting its ramparts, churches, salt marshes, and traditions helps ensure that future generations can discover the richness of its medieval heritage, the uniqueness of its Camargue landscapes, and the spirit of a city that has stood through the centuries.

By respecting this unique place, everyone helps keep the history and identity of Aigues-Mortes alive.