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Origin and history

The Calvières Gate of Alet-les-Bains is one of the fortifications erected around the city, whose construction of the walls and ditches is attributed to Pons Amelii, abbot of the monastery of Alet between 1167 and 1197. These defences, originally designed to protect the city, mark a period of urbanization and military structure typical of the Middle Ages in southern France. The materials used, such as bellows of various sizes, reflect the local construction techniques of the time.

The name porte Calvières no. appears only from the second half of the 16th century, replacing its original name, Portail d'Amont. This change is probably due to the proximity of a building owned by a Sieur Calvière, mentioned in a 1551 compound as having sold goods in the local chapter. The door is distinguished by its concentric arches, visible both outside and inside, and by the remains of the adjacent ramparts, partially preserved over a hundred meters.

The walls of the enclosure have a variety of construction: a neat device next to the more hasty sections, crowned by a scald (small watch tower overlooking). These elements illustrate the architectural adaptations between the 12th and 16th centuries, during which time the gate and the ramparts could be modified to meet defence or urban needs. Ranked a Historic Monument in 1952, the Porte Calvières is now owned by the municipality and constitutes a major vestige of the medieval heritage of Alet-les-Bains.

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