Queen's Gate, City gate in Aigues-Mortes, France
Queen's Gate, also known as Porte de la Reine, is a city gate set into the eastern section of the medieval stone walls of Aigues-Mortes, in southern France. It is one of several gates built into the ramparts and opens directly onto the road that heads toward the saltworks outside the town.
The walls of Aigues-Mortes, including its gates, were built in the 13th century at the initiative of King Louis IX, who wanted a port here for his crusades to the Holy Land. The gates were maintained and modified over time but remained part of the original defensive layout of the town.
The gate stands on the east side of Aigues-Mortes and marks the start of the road leading to the saltworks, which shaped much of local life for centuries. Passing through it today still gives a clear sense of how tightly the town was connected to the salt trade around it.
The gate is easy to spot from outside the walls and can be reached on foot from the town center, since Aigues-Mortes is a small, walkable town. Strolling along the outside of the ramparts gives a good overall view of how the gate fits into the full defensive layout.
The name Porte de la Reine refers to a royal connection, though it is far less talked about than the stories attached to the town's bigger towers. Unlike the more famous gates that faced the port or the main roads, this one served mostly the workers and carts heading to and from the saltworks each day.
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