Walls and gates of Avignon (Les remparts d'Avignon) description and photos - France: Avignon (Topic)

Walls and gates of Avignon (Les remparts d'Avignon) description and photos - France: Avignon. Detailed information about the attraction. Description, photographs and a map showing the nearest significant objects. The title in English is Les remparts d'Avignon.

Photo and description

The powerful stone walls in the historic part of Avignon were erected in the 14th century to protect the city and the papal residence. However, these were already the third city fortifications built around Avignon.

The first city wall was built around the city in the 1st century during the presence of the Romans. There were not even ruins left of it, but the researchers were able to determine in the area of which streets the fortress wall passed and what shape the outline of Avignon had in Roman times - it turned out that it was rectangular and very small in area. The second city wall was built in the 13th century, but it did not last long and was destroyed by the troops of Louis VIII, who fought against the heretics - however, before falling, the wall withstood a three-month siege. A few years later, the townspeople rebuilt the city fortifications, a fragment of which can be seen on the rue Saint-Charles.

In the 14th century, after the papal residence moved to Avignon, the status of the city changed, its economic prosperity and population increased, and its urban areas expanded. Therefore, another fortress wall had to be built here, which surrounded an area three times larger than that which was inside the former city walls.

The length of the city fortifications of the XIV century was more than 4300 meters, the height of the walls was eight meters. More than 80 large and small watchtowers were built around the city, and a mouth was dug under the walls, which was filled with water from two rivers - Sorg and Duransol. You could get into the city through seven gates, each of which was equipped with additional protection in the form of a lattice and a drawbridge over the moat. Today you can see one of the 14th century gates, which are located at the beginning of the Limber boulevard, as well as the 13th century gates, called the Old ones.

The city fortifications of Avignon, built in the middle of the XIV century, were considered one of the longest in France, namely the second after the Parisian walls.

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Topic: Walls and gates of Avignon (Les remparts d'Avignon) description and photos - France: Avignon.