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Origin and history

The ramparts of Avignon, located in the Vaucluse in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region, constitute one of the few medieval French enclosures preserved in their entirety. Their current construction, initiated in 1349 under Clement VI and continued by Innocent VI from 1355, met the need to protect the papal city of the Great Companies and roadmen during the Hundred Years War. Funded by local taxes and European subsidies, these 4,330 metres of walls, flanked by 36 towers and 56 scalds, also integrated a system of defense against the floods of the Rhône, with coffers and ditches fed by the Sorgue.

The history of the Avignon fortifications dates back to antiquity, with a first Roman enclosure in the 1st century, followed by a medieval rampart in the 12th century, destroyed in 1226 by Louis VIII after the Albigois War. Reconstructed between 1234 and 1248, this rampart was replaced in the 14th century by the present enclosure, designed by Juan Fernandez de Heredia and Pierre Obreri. The marks of stone tailors, noted in 1880, bear witness to the corporate organization of craftsmen. In the 19th century, Viollet-le-Duc supervised major restorations (1860–69), reinforcing the flood walls, while demolition projects (1833–96) were avoided thanks to successive classifications such as Historic Monument (from 1906).

The ramparts played a crucial economic and social role, serving both as a dam against floods – as in 1856, where their partial collapse caused a devastating flood – and as a symbol of papal power. Their 16 doors, some of which were modernized (e.g., the Republic Gate in 1863), reflect urban evolution. Classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site with the Popes' Palace and Saint-Bénézet Bridge, they today embody an exceptional architectural heritage, celebrated by Stendhal and Viollet-le-Duc for their beauty and engineering.

Beyond their defensive function, the ramparts became a central element of Avignon's life, sheltering artisanal activities (stone tailors, dyers) and commercial activities. Their preservation in the 20th century, despite urban pressures, illustrates their heritage importance. The poternes and valves, like the one on Rue des Teinturiers, recall their adaptation to daily needs, while the stone marks offer a unique testimony of medieval construction methods.

The threats of destruction in the 19th century, carried by figures such as Eugene Poncet or Paulin Talabot, were opposed by intellectuals such as Prosper Mérimée and Esprit Requien, defending their historical value. The work of Viollet-le-Duc, combining restoration and innovation (counterwalls, cannon guns), enabled the ramparts to resist major floods, such as that of 2003. Today, they remain a symbol of Avignon's resilience, mixing medieval heritage and modern adaptations.

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