The Carbonnière Tower, a Grand Site of France, is an imposing contemporary square tower of the ramparts of Aigues-Mortes. Built at the end of the thirteenth century, it was then the only way of access of the lands towards the royal city.
This listed historical monument, once used as a toll booth, now offers an exceptional viewpoint to observe the fauna and flora of the Camargue. From this observatory, listed as a Historical Monument since 1 December 1903, visitors can admire the emblematic species of the region, such as egrets garzettes, herons, chickens, stews, as well as horses and bulls from the Camargue. Website
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Here are some little-known facts and legends about the Carbonnière Tower:
Origin of the name: The name "Carbonnière" could come from the old word "carbonaria" designating a place where charcoal was made. It is possible that the tower was used for this purpose or that it was associated with a coal-related activity in the past.
Toll booth: In addition to its defensive role, the Carbonnière Tower would also have been used as a toll booth for a period. Travelers had to pay a right of way to cross the drawbridge and access Aigues-Mortes.
Presence of ditches: Although often overlooked, the ditches surrounding the tower are an important part of its defensive system. They were filled with water and constituted an additional barrier against the attackers.
Smuggling legends: There are local legends suggesting that the Carbonnière Tower was used by smugglers to smuggle goods into the area. These stories feed the imagination of visitors and add a touch of mystery to the tower’s history.
Ornithological Observatory: Nowadays, the Carbonnière Tower is also known as an ornithological observatory. Bird lovers come to observe the different species that inhabit the surrounding marshes, thus offering a new life to this historical monument.
