Once our week in Narbonne was done, we packed up and headed east to Marseilles. Along the way we stopped to visit Aigues-Mortes. This seaside town means "Dead waters" in Old French. It was surrounded by swampy land in the Middle Ages and King Louis dug out a channel in order to launch his ships from here for the Crusades. The 13th century church in the walled city was where he received his instructions and blessing.
The Tour de Constance was built and then used as a dungeon for criminals and later, the Protestant women. So if you were arrested for having a Bible or worshipping as a Protestant, the men were sent to the galleys where they would row the kings' ships on the Crusades. The women were imprisoned in the Tower. Marie Durand, arrested on her wedding day, spent 38 years in the tower before being freed. On this monument you can see the Hugenot cross, the galley ship and the tower.
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