Photo: Walled Town Aigues Mortes France

The walled town of Aigues Mortes and the 13th century Constance Tower in the Languedoc region of Provence, France.

Aigues-Mortes in the Languedoc region of Provence in France is probably the best example of a walled town in such fine condition in all of France. Although the town was first recorded in the 10th century as Ayga Mortes which translates to 'dead waters', Louis IX of France is credited with building the present Aigues-Mortes in 1241 as a port to give him access to the Mediterranean Sea.King Louis and his men set sail from Aigues-Mortes in Provence, France to fight in the Seventh and Eighth Crusades (1248 and 1270), sadly the king did not return from the last one.The walls around the town measures 1650 meters and were not completed until the end of the 13th century and the Constance Tower was built in 1248 possibly as the gatehouse of the castle, which is now gone.The Constance Tower has walls that are 6 meters thick and a spiral stairway up the other levels, although there is an elevator to reach the top to view the interesting canals, waterways and marshes. ... continue below the picture...

... The Tour de Constance is open from April to September.Visitors to Aigues-Mortes in Provence will enjoy the medieval feel to the town with cobblestone streets and the fortified walls still surrounding it.Fortified village of Aigues-Mortes and the Tour de Constance tower, Bouches du Rhone, Provence, France, Europe.