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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

Marcolès fortifications, located in the Cantal department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, date mainly from the 15th century. They bear witness to the continuous adaptation of medieval urban defences, incorporating older elements such as a seigneurial tower of 1203 and a first circular enclosure of the 13th century (called castrum of Marcoles in 1277). The current 720-metre perimeter route preserves remains of walls, blind facades on the attack side, and two doors: the lower (east) gate, partially intact with its defensive devices (herse, murderous, coat of arms of the Boisset), and the high (west) gate, rebuilt in the 19th century.

The extension of the fortifications in the 15th century reflects the demographic evolution and defensive needs of the end of the Hundred Years War. A mixed crossbow, combining vertical slit for crossbows and circular opening for firearms, remains under the lower gate. The site also includes a natural spur, operated from the 13th century for its strategic position, overlooking the 20-metre Saint-Martin suburb. Excavations (1989) near the church revealed a rampart and a staggered ditch, evoking a possible false door linked to an episode of the Hundred Years War, where the city was allegedly partially burned.

The lower town gate, classified as a historical monument in 2003, illustrates medieval defensive architecture with its vaulted passage, its cruciform arches and its closing mechanisms (herse, door to two vantals). The old intramural balat and the houses with blind facades recall the urban organization designed to resist the assaults. Despite partial reconstructions, such as that of the high gate, the ensemble retains historical coherence, combining 13th century heritage and 15th century developments.

The archaeological site of the false door, although subject to debate, suggests a fault exploited during an incursion, perhaps by roadmen. The remains of the rampart and the eccentric ditch (4 meters from the enclosure) confirm a complex defence, adapted to the siege techniques of the time. Today, these fortifications offer a rare example of preserved medieval urban planning, where topography and architecture complement each other to ensure the protection of the village.

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