The town was founded around 102 BC by the emperor Marius Caius. It wasn't until 791, under the impetus of Charlemagne, that the first tower, the Tour Matafère, was erected in this small hamlet surrounded by marshes, where fishermen and salt workers survived.
Salt has always been one of the riches of this corner of the Camargue.
In the 13th century, King Louis IX launched his crusades from Aigues-Mortes, and in 1272, King Saint-Louis undertook the construction of the town's ramparts, a 1640 m-long enclosure.
During the Wars of Religion, the Tour Constance became a prison until the abolition of the Edict of Nantes in 1685.
In the early 20th century, Aigues-Mortes became a renowned tourist resort, having solved the problems of insalubrious salt marshes. Charm and a gentle way of life are the assets of this little corner of the Camargue, on the shores of the Mediterranean, where you must visit its many charms.
A must-see...
A visit to Aigues-Mortes means discovering its towers and ramparts, in particular the Tour Constance, an almost impregnable fortress, the church of Notre-Dame des Sablons, the Tour Carbonnière, the Tour des Bourguignons...
Also worth seeing are two chapels: the 17th-century Pénitents Blancs chapel, with its listed fresco by X. Sigalon, and the 17th-century chapel of the Pénitents Gris, with its listed stucco restoration by Sabatier.
La Marette, Maison du Grand Site de France de la Camargue Gardoise, is a place where you can discover the landscapes, fauna, flora and human activities of the Camargue.
To make the most of the site, take the Aigues-Mortes tourist train. You'll learn all about the Crusades, the building of the ramparts, the Wars of Religion...
Aigues-Mortes is also home to a museum, Les Trains du Colorado, located in the patio of a large house. The museum is the brainchild of an enthusiast who designed an animated network of large-scale miniature trains. Inspired by the American Wild West, the staging of rolling stock in a setting that coherently combines vegetation, structures and characters creates a surprisingly realistic atmosphere.
And of course, the Camargue is a must-see destination, whether on horseback, by car, by bike or on foot, to marvel at the birds, the pink flamingos, the horses and manades, the bulls and the Camargue culture...
Tourist Office
BP 23
Place Saint-Louis
30220 Aigues Mortes
Tel.: 04 66 53 73 00
