Built near the end of the 13th century, the Carbonnière tower played a role in protecting the walled city of Aigues-Mortes. A text from 1346 describes the fortress as "the key to the kingdom in this region." Located in the middle of the marshes, it was the obligatory passage to reach Aigues-Mortes, and its crossing was subject to a toll. It was held by a garrison made up of a squire and several guards, and its terrace could support up to four pieces of artillery.
The tower is built in ashlars to boss, just like the Aigues-Mortes ramparts. Halfway up, it features a row of more regular, darker-colored boss stones. Some ashlars show job marks similar to those found on the ramparts of Aigues-Mortes. The road once crossed the tower by a door defended by a portcullis and surmounted by a low arch.
The base and the top of the southern and northern facades are pierced with two large loopholes. The parapet of the platform which surmounts the tower has a single niche on each face and a watchtower at each angle. Today, the site is part of the Grand site en Petite Camargue and features a discovery trail in the surrounding marsh.
Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons
Written by Nicolo Ciampini
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