Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The old walls of Mende were originally built around 1160 under the impulse of Bishop Aldebert of the Tournel, in order to protect the city from the attacks of the local lords of Canillac, Cabrières and Dolan. The enclosure, consisting of thirteen towers and five doors surrounded by ditches, reflected medieval defensive needs. These fortifications underwent major changes during the Hundred Years' War, notably the widening of the ditches in 1351 and repairs to the walls, illustrating their strategic role in regional conflicts.

Between the 16th and 17th centuries, the enclosure was adapted to the progress of artillery, with the addition of bastions and gunboats to meet the new techniques of siege. However, by the end of the 18th century, the majority of the ramparts were demolished by royal authorization in 1769, their materials being reused to bridge the ditches. Today, there remains only a courtine of sixteen meters and a polygonal bastion equipped with cannon guns, tangible remains of this enlivened military history.

The current location of the remains, near the boulevard Théophile-Roussel in Mende, recalls the past importance of these fortifications. Their inscription in the Historical Monuments in 1979 underscores their heritage value, despite their fragmentary state. The ramparts thus symbolize the architectural transformations and defensive stakes of the city, from the Middle Ages to the modern era.

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