Aigues-Mortes
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Commune of Aigues-Mortes Aerial view of Aigues-Mortes |
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| Location | |
| Coordinates | |
| Administration | |
|---|---|
| Country | France |
| Region | Languedoc-Roussillon |
| Department | Gard |
| Arrondissement | Nîmes |
| Canton | Aigues-Mortes |
| Mayor | Jeannot René (2001-2008) |
| Statistics | |
| Altitude | 0 m–3 m (avg. 1 m) |
| Land area¹ | 57.78 km² |
| Population² (1999) |
6,012 (Aiguemortais) |
| - Density (1999) | 104/km² |
| Miscellaneous | |
| INSEE/Postal code | 30003/ 30220 |
| ¹ French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 mi² or 247 acres) and river estuaries. | |
| ² Population sans doubles comptes: single count of residents of multiple communes (e.g. students and military personnel). | |
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Aigues-Mortes is a town and commune in the Gard département, in southern France, famous for the well-preserved city walls surrounding the city.
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[edit] History
The foundation of the city is attributed to Marius Caius, around 102 BC, but the first document mentioning a place called "Ayga Mortas" (dead waters) dates from the 10th century.
Louis IX of France (Saint Louis) rebuilt the port in the 13th century as France's only Mediterranean port at that time. It was the embarkation point of the Seventh Crusade (1248) and the Eighth Crusade (1270). The town is actually several miles inland and the port, as such, would have been in nearby lagoons and estuaries, linked to Aigues-Mortes.
In 1893 a conflict between the French and the Italians who worked in the salt evaporation ponds of Peccais erupted, killing nine and injuring hundreds on the Italian side (Enzo Barnabà, Le sang des marais, Marseille, 1993).
[edit] Geography
Aigues-Mortes is located in the Petite Camargue. Area: 57,78 km².
By road, Aigues-Mortes is about 35 km (21.75 mi) from Nîmes, préfecture (administrative capital) of the Gard département and 30 km (18.65 mi) from Montpellier, préfecture of the Hérault département. As the crow flies, Aigues-Mortes is 32.5 km (20.19 mi) from Nîmes and 26 km (16.16 mi) from Montpellier.
A rail branch line from Nîmes passes through Aigues-Mortes to its terminus on the coast atGrau-du-Roi. This line also transports sea salt.
[edit] Economy
While tourism plays a large part of the town's economy, wine, asparagus and sea salt are also important staples. In the surrounding countryside, bulls and Camargue horses are bred.
[edit] Literary reference
Ernest Hemingway's third major posthumous work, the novel The Garden of Eden, takes place in Aigues-Mortes.
[edit] Gallery
 Ramparts of the town of Aigues-Mortes |
 Ramparts of the town of Aigues-Mortes |
 Aigues-Mortes wall |
 Mounds of sea salt seen from Aigues-Mortes wall |
 A view from the Tour de Constance. Salt "hills" can be seen in the distance |
[edit] External links
- Office de Tourisme d'Aigues-Mortes
- Aigues-Mortes Photogallery
- Aigues-Mortes History, geography, economy, maps, photographs, and useful links.
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