A Fortified City and 400 Drones

Christmas Break Adventures

Being satisfied with our flamingo sightings we traveled to Aigues Mortes, a medieval fortified city serving as a port to the Mediterranean Sea. We only scratched the surface of this place and will be returning for sure.

Here are some facts I found, which give me the desire to return:

•Founded around 102 BC, by Marius Caius

•The first tower would be built in 791AD by Charlemange (this guy has been everywhere)

•13th Century led King Louis IX to acquire it as a launching pad for his crusaders via the Mediterranean Sea.

•1272 the king Saint-Louis began constructing the surrounding walls which stand today.

•The end of the 16th century brought the War of Religion to the area, including Calvinism

•The Constance Tower became a famous and dreaded place for prisoners. (We did not even see his tower.)

•The revocation of the Edict of Nantes in 1685 made any Protestant worship illegal. As for the Protestants, they were forbidden to leave the Kingdom. Many were imprisoned in the Constance Tower, which served as a prison for “heretic” women . The best known of them, Marie Durand, sister of a clandestine pastor, was detained there at the age of 19 and would not be released until 38 years later.

•WOW

After briefly walking around and grabbing some dinner we headed to La Grande-Motte for a Christmas drone show of 400 drones. It was neat to see the drones create 3D shapes in the air and then spin them. It reminded me of my old marching band days except in the sky versus a football field.