Initial construction 4e quart XVIe siècle - 1er quart XVIIe siècle (≈ 1687)
Period of construction of the door.
1866
End of exclusive use
End of exclusive use 1866 (≈ 1866)
Last year as the only entrance to the village.
23 avril 1979
Registration for Historic Monuments
Registration for Historic Monuments 23 avril 1979 (≈ 1979)
Protection of the facade and roof.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
The façade on street and the corresponding roof (Box AB 52): inscription by decree of 23 April 1979
Key figures
Connétable de Montmorency - Project sponsor
Comes to the door on an unspecified date.
Prince Grimaldi - Sponsor of works (XVIII century)
Subsequent renovations of the door.
Origin and history
The Eyguières Gate, also known as the Water Gate, is a building located in the Baux-de-Provence, in the Bouches-du-Rhône. It was part of the city's ramparts and, until 1866, was the only entrance to the village. This door allowed direct access to the Vallon de la Fontaine, a strategic point for water supply. Its architecture reflects its defensive and utilitarian role in the medieval and modern organization of the village.
The gate experienced several phases of work, notably under the impetus of the Connétable de Montmorency and, later, of Prince Grimaldi in the 18th century. These interventions bear witness to its continuing importance throughout the centuries. In 1979, the street façade and the corresponding roof were listed as historic monuments, recognizing its heritage value. The door now embodies a key vestige of the defensive and urban history of the Baux-de-Provence.
Les Baux-de-Provence, an emblematic perched village in the region, was a strategic place in Provence. The ramparts and their gates, like that of Eyguières, played a central role in protecting the inhabitants and controlling access. The Eyguières Gate thus illustrates the evolution of fortification techniques between the Renaissance and the modern era, while emphasizing the adaptation of infrastructure to local needs, such as access to water.
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