CHAPTER XVI.. Aigues Mortes and Maguelonne.

AIGUES MORTES AND MAGUELONNE.

A dead town--The Rhônes-morts--Bars--S. Louis and the Crusades--How S. Louis acquired Aigues Mortes--His canal--The four littoral chains and lagoons--The fortifications--Unique for their date--Original use of battlements--Deserted state of the town--Maguelonne--How reached--History of Maguelonne--Cathedral--The Bishops forge Saracen coins--Second destruction of the place--Inscription on door--Bernard de Treviis--His romance of Pierre de Provence--Provençal poetry not always immoral--Present state of Maguelonne