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The Monument
On the swampy grounds of the Camargue stands the fortress of Aigues-Mortes, which was built ex nihilo by Saint Louis in the 13th century, in order to provide the kingdom of France with a port by the Mediterranean Sea. It took under 50 years to construct the Constance tower, one of the most magnificent keeps from the Middle Ages, and the 1634-metre long ramparts flanked by 20 towers.
After a flourishing period, the city survived with difficulty and the Constance tower became regrettably well-known for being used in 1685 as a prison for protestant women of the Cévennes. It had already served as a prison for the Templars since 1307 and was due to do so until 1768. Most of the medieval environment of the city has been preserved and can still be appreciated today.
Lodging
See the listing of the Hotels in Montpellier
See the listing of the Hotels in Nimes
See the listing of the Hotels in Arles
Practical informations
Logis du Gouverneur of Aigues-Mortes
30220 Aigues-Mortes
Going there
From Nîmes: motorway A 9 to Callargue, then main road N 313 and secondary road D 979 to Aigues-Mortes
From Arles: exit n° 4, secondary roads D 750 towards Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer and D 38 to Aigues-Mortes
From Montpellier: exit n° 2, secondary roads D 66 and D 62 to Aigues-Mortes
Localisation
On the Lyons/Perpignan and Toulouse/Marseille roads
Near the Camargue
33 km southwest of Nîmes
45 km southwest of Arles
27 km east of Montpellier
Opening / Closing
Open
from May to August : 10 am to 7 pm
from September to April : 10 am to 5:30 pm
Cashdesks close from 1 to 2 pm and 45 mins before the monument
Closed
on January 1, May 1, November 1, November 11 and December 25