When The Monuments of the City......Tell Heir Story...

Tower of Constance - Ramparts - Governor's Hotel - Notre Dame des Sablons - The Chapel of the Grey Penitents- The Chapel of the White Penitents

THE TOWER OF CONSTANCE

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Erected in 1242 by Saint Louis (finished in 1254) the tower was built upon The MATAFERE Tower (built by  Charlemagne).

  • Characteristics :
  • Structure

Diameter of tower 22 m

Terrace altitude 22 m

Lantern altitude 33 m

Depth of walls 6 m

 Ground Floor - Guards Room

In the middle of the room, a circular opening allowed access to the basement where the supplies, ammunition and dungeons were found.These basements were called the "culs de basse-fosse". The door of the guards room had an iron gate mechanism. There was also cupboards, a bread oven, a drinking water well and a statue of Saint Louis.

First floor - Knights Room

The structure of this room is comparable to that of the guards. It was used as a prison for traitors (Charles d'Artois, Jean II d'Alençon), protestants and 45 templars at the end of the XIV° Century.

Upper Platform

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It is on the top of a cage that shelters the lookout fires. The tower was also used as a lookout tower and lighthouse.

 

THE RAMPARTS

In 1268, a tax was created to finance the construction ot the ramparts of the city. After Saint Louis' death, his son, Philippe le Hardi continues his work. It is under Philippe le Bel, at the beginning of the XIV° century that the ramparts were finished. These remparts, solidely anchored under a soft surface, are built with limestone from Beaucaire and Les Baux de Provence.

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THE GOVERNOR'S HOTEL

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This edifice was constructed on the former kings' house (burnt down in the XV° century).

The Tower of Constance looks over this building.

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NOTRE DAME DES SABLONS

This church, built the first time in 1183, was called "Beata Maria de Sabulo". It was reconstructed in stone and in gothic style, in 1246.

It was in 1248 that it opened to worship. Before the departure for the 7th crusade, Saint Louis knelt down in this church. In 1293, the chapel was dedicated to Saint Antoine. Afterwards, it was looted several times and often renamed.

It was not until 1741 and a lengthly legal procedure that this edifice was restored after intensive repairs. During the French Revolution, the church was converted into barracks. After being ransacked, all objects of worship were burned in the town square.

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THE CHAPEL OF THE GREY PENITENTS

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Direct heirs  of the Cordeliers monks' convent (famous benefactors of Aigues-Mortes ), the penitents service the city.

In exchange of that, the residents of the city give up a part of their cemetary, where they build their first chapel. At the time of the war of religion, in 1575, this chapel will be destroyed. Rebuilt in 1607, the brotherhood is in full crisis, its important growth provokes disputes that will create a separation and form theWhite Penitents brotherhood. The Grey Penitents' role is not only to celebrate ceremonies but also to maintain liturgy traditions, to help the sick and the poor : their role is social and their action still continues today.

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THE CHAPEL OF THE WHITE PENITENTS

Founded in 1625, after the separation of a penitent group of the Grey Penitents brotherhood.

Their chapel is put under the protection of the "Sainte Vierge" and "Saint Esprit". Their symbol is the dove.

The brotherhood objective is the same as that of the Grey Penitents.

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