Pre-Roman and Roman Era:

The area around Aigues-Mortes (Latin: Aquae Mortuae, meaning "dead waters" due to its stagnant marshes) was inhabited by fishermen and salt workers as early as the 4th century BC. The Romans, under engineer Peccius, organized salt production in the region, which became a vital economic activity.

Charlemagne's Influence:

In 791 AD, Charlemagne built the Matafère Tower to protect the local population from invasions and to oversee the salt marshes. The tower later became part of a Benedictine abbey dedicated to Psalmody.

Medieval Rise: The Crusader Port

Louis IX's Vision: In 1240, King Louis IX (Saint Louis) sought a Mediterranean port for Crusader expeditions. He acquired Aigues-Mortes from the monks of Psalmody Abbey and transformed it into a strategic gateway. The Constance Tower was constructed on the site of the old Matafère Tower, serving as a fortress and garrison.

Crusader Departures:

Aigues-Mortes became the departure point for the Seventh Crusade (1248) and the Eighth Crusade (1270), during which Louis IX died in Tunis. The town’s walls, completed in 1300 under Philip III, enclosed the city in a 1,640-meter quadrilateral with six towers.

Templar Imprisonment:

In the 14th century, the Constance Tower was used to imprison 45 Templar Knights, who were tortured and burned after the order’s suppression.

The town’s name, Aigues-Mortes, means "dead waters," which sounds like something from a pirate horror movie. But in reality, it’s just because the water is stagnant—not because it’s haunted (though the Tower of Constance did imprison Templars and Huguenots, so maybe it’s a little haunted).

Click on any image for enlarged image and navigation views.