The Towers and the Ramparts

THE GOVERNOR’S LODGE – NEW INTERPRETIVE SPACE

To discover the history of the Towers and Ramparts of Aigues-Mortes, begin your visit at the Governor’s Lodge, recently transformed into an interpretive space. Four interactive rooms present the key moments in the city’s history, including :

• The founding of the city by Saint Louis
• The port and maritime trade in the Mediterranean in the 13th century
• The urban development of the city
• The architecture of the fortifications

THE TOWERS AND RAMPARTS OF AIGUES-MORTES – WITNESSES OF THE MIDDLE AGES

With 1,640 meters of fortifications, the ramparts of Aigues-Mortes are among the best-preserved in Europe. Initiated by Louis IX to protect the city from enemies and sand-laden winds, the project was continued after his death in 1270 by Philip III the Bold and Philip IV the Fair, and completed at the end of the 13th or the very beginning of the 14th century.

The enclosure, equipped with arrow slits and battlements, was accessible via fifteen military staircases connecting the rampart walk to the city, some of which are now walled up.

• South Rampart : Open to the sea and the salt marshes, it includes five gates — including the Galions, Marine, and Arsenal gates — facilitating access to the port. The Porte des Moulins, once surmounted by two windmills, and the Porte de la Marine offer panoramic views of the salt marshes. The Porte des Galions is notable for its vaulted sculptures depicting a Minotaur and a monk.
• North Rampart : Focused on defense, it features two main gates : the Porte de la Gardette, the principal gate with its former drawbridge and barbican, and the secondary Porte Saint-Antoine. The Tours du Sel, de la Mèche, and de Villeneuve reinforce the wall and the ditches.
• East and West Ramparts : The Porte de la Reine (East) provided access to the Chemin de Peccais leading to the royal saltworks. On the West side, only a small structure, the Porte des Remblais, ensured entry. The Porte des Cordeliers, unique in its kind, allowed the Minor Brothers to exit toward the surrounding fields.

THE TOWER OF CONSTANCE – AN ICONIC MONUMENT OF AIGUES-MORTES

After walking along the rampart walk, don’t miss the Tower of Constance, the most emblematic structure of Aigues-Mortes. Take the time to explore its two rooms, its gallery, and climb to the terrace to enjoy an exceptional panoramic view.

Built between 1240 and 1248 by Louis IX, this cylindrical tower measures 22 meters in diameter and 37 meters in height at the top. It has two entrances, to the north toward the countryside and to the south toward the castle. Originally surrounded by a circular moat crossed by two bridges, it protected access to the royal castle, which was burned down in 1421. The tower has four levels connected by a spiral staircase, and its terrace reaches 26 meters high, offering a unique view of the city, the ramparts, the canals, the salt marshes, the architecture of the large motte, and even the Pic Saint-Loup. The parapet, remodeled at the end of the 16th century, features four cannon embrasures.

While the first prisoners were Templars, the imprisonment of Protestants for their faith marked its history. The Tower of Constance thus stands as a memorial of French Protestantism, from the Peace of Aigues-Mortes concluded between Francis I and Charles V to the release of the last female prisoners in 1768. Among them, Marie Durand remains a symbol of resistance: on the ledge of the oculus in the upper room, the graffiti “REGISTER” (meaning “resist” in Occitan) testifies to her courage in the face of royal intolerance. Other Huguenot graffiti, often preceded by a capital W, can be seen on the vault of the firing chamber.

The Tours and Ramparts calendar