Navy Gate, City gate in Aigues-Mortes, France
The Porte de la Marine is a medieval city gate set into the southern section of the old walls of Aigues-Mortes, on the side facing the water and the former harbor. It opens through a wide stone arch, built to let people and carts pass, and is flanked by the thick defensive walls that run along the waterfront.
The Porte de la Marine was built in the 13th century as part of the fortified walls ordered by King Louis IX, who wanted Aigues-Mortes to serve as a port and a base for his crusades. The walls were completed after his death and have stood largely unchanged since the early 14th century.
The Porte de la Marine takes its name from its location near the old harbor, where ships once docked to unload goods and passengers. Visitors who look closely at the stonework can still spot small carvings left by the craftsmen who built it.
The gate is part of the walking route along the city walls and is easy to reach on foot from the town center. Visiting in the early morning or late afternoon gives the best light for seeing the stonework, and the area around the southern walls tends to be less crowded than the main entrances.
In 1538, the French king François I and the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V met in Aigues-Mortes for a rare diplomatic encounter, and the Porte de la Marine was the point where their delegations entered the city from the harbor. Just a few years later, in 1542, war broke out again between the two powers, making that moment of peace short-lived.
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