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Origin and history

The ramparts of Vence, probably built between 1230 and 1245 under the impulse of Romée de Villeneuve, form an elliptical enclosure of 600 metres around the historic centre. Their structure, with crenelated merlons and shooting slots, reflects a homogeneous medieval military architecture. The tower of the Peyra, 20 meters high and square plan, was initially used as a dungeon and was later integrated into the Château des Villeneuve, now transformed into a museum.

The property of the ramparts has been the subject of historical conflicts, particularly between the community of Vence and the local lords. As early as 1333, an act confirmed their belonging to the commune, but disputes persisted until the 18th century, such as the "Regal trial". The ramparts, partially modified over the centuries (comblement of ditches in the 15th century, destruction of towers in the 19th century), retain traces of their original defensive function, especially on the north side where the trimming is best preserved.

Five doors punctuate the enclosure: the Signadour Gate (XIIIth–XIVth century), the Levis Gate (with drawbridge), the Peyra Gate (mentioned in 1441), the Orient Gate (opened in 1787 after a long legal conflict), and the Faubourg Gate (1863). These openings reflect urban change and the growing need for accessibility. The Signadour Gate, for example, combines Gothic and Romanesque elements, while the Orient Gate is the result of a controversial breach created by Bishop Gabriel François Moreau.

The architectural analysis of Jean-Claude Poteur (2012) confirms the homogeneity of the construction, attributed to the period 1230–45, under Romée de Villeneuve, protected by the Count of Provence Raimond-Bérenger V. The latter gave Vence to Romée in 1230, marking the beginning of an administrative and military reorganization. The similarities between the walls of Vence and those of Villeneuve-Loubet castle, also built by Romée, reinforce this dating. Slots and shooting devices suggest an influence of contemporary fortifications such as Carcassonne or Avignon.

In the 17th century, the Château des Villeneuve, backed by the Peyra tower, was converted into a seigneurial house, then transformed into a museum in the 20th century thanks to the legacy of Émile Hugues. The ramparts, listed as a historical monument, now belong to the commune. Their preservation makes it possible to observe details such as the bolt holes (for heavy) or the grilled windows authorized in 1333, testimonies of the successive adaptations of this medieval enclosure.

Historical sources are missing for the period prior to the 13th century. Although 18th century texts evoke Roman origin, this hypothesis remains unconfirmed by architectural analyses. The current ramparts, with their five gates and their elliptical route, illustrate above all a desire for medieval urban protection, linked to the seigneurialization of Vence by the family of Villeneuve.

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