Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Porte des Degrés is a medieval town gate built between 1227 and 1231 under the impulse of Philippe Hurepel de Clermont, Count of Boulogne. It was an integral part of the city's defensive system, designed to protect Boulogne-sur-Mer from invasions. Its architecture follows a Philippian plan, with two massive U-shaped towers surrounding a vaulted passage, initially equipped with a drawbridge and a harrow.

In 1587, the passage and guard corps were obstructed by M. du Bernet to strengthen the defence, the door becoming vulnerable to artillery. These improvements were abolished in 1895, restoring traffic. Originally, the monument consisted of wooden ceilings and an upper building called the duchess cabinet, destroyed in 1864. The cradle vault, adorned with bricks, could date back to the 16th century.

Ranked a historic monument in 1905, the Gate of the Degrees is now one of the few remains of the medieval ramparts of Boulogne-sur-Mer. It reflects the evolution of military techniques and defensive urban planning in the Middle Ages. Its location in the old town recalls the quadrilateral of the old ramparts, where it occupied a strategic position to the southwest.

The monument also illustrates the successive adaptations suffered by the fortifications: transformation of the archeries into cannons, partial destruction, and then restoration. These changes reflect the changing needs of the city, between military protection and urban integration. The door remains a symbol of the military and architectural heritage of the Hauts-de-France.

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