About The Port Of Aigues-Mortes
Founded in the 13th century by King Louis IX as a departure point for the Crusades, Aigues-Mortes remains encircled by its original ramparts, a rare example of intact medieval fortification in Europe. Narrow streets lead to the Constance Tower, once a lookout and prison, and to a compact grid of stone houses, cafes, and shops that reveal centuries of trade in salt, still harvested from the surrounding marshes today. The old town sits within easy walking distance of the pier, making its walls and squares simple to explore on foot.
Beyond the ramparts stretch the flat, luminous landscapes of the Camargue, where salt pans, rice fields, and wetlands support pink flamingos, white horses, and black bulls unique to the region. The town serves as a natural gateway for excursions into this delta landscape, as well as for onward journeys to nearby Arles and Avignon, both rich in Roman and papal history.
Pavlus Recommendations
How our planners would spend a day in Aigues-Mortes.
Walk the Ramparts
Climb the 13th-century walls for a full loop over the town and surrounding salt marshes, a circuit of roughly 30 minutes on foot, starting near Constance Tower.
Climb Constance Tower
Ascend the fortress tower that once guarded the port and jailed prisoners for sweeping views across the Camargue's flat, luminous plains to the sea.
Explore the Camargue Wetlands
Head into the delta beyond the ramparts to spot pink flamingos, white horses, and black bulls roaming salt pans and rice fields, best reached by a short excursion from town.