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Origin and history

The Bastion du Gabut, located in La Rochelle, was built in 1568 by the Italian engineer Scipione Vergano as part of the renovation of the fortifications commissioned by Saint-Hermine. This bastion was built in part with the remains of Saint-Sauveur church, destroyed by the Protestants, and equipped with a brick parapet. It entered the Gabut wall, built between 1373 and 1376 to protect the southern front of the second medieval enclosure, reusing the stones of the Vauclair castle after its demolition.

The Gabut wall, built between 1373 and 1376, was designed to enclos the La Petite-Rive lagoon and to strengthen the defense system of the port of La Rochelle. It connected the gate and the Saint-Nicolas tower, marking the southern front of the second medieval enclosure. This project was carried out after the return of the city under the French Crown, using the materials of the Vauclair castle, then demolished.

In the 19th century, the bastion underwent major changes: in 1858, a new Saint-Nicolas gate was pierced into the courtyard to facilitate access to the newly built station. Twenty years later, the courtine was demolished, followed by the partial destruction of the bastion itself at the end of the nineteenth century. Despite these transformations, the remaining remains were listed as historical monuments by decree of 26 February 1990, recognizing their heritage value.

Today, the Gabut Bastion is owned by a private company. Although partially demolished, it reflects the architectural and strategic evolutions of the fortifications of La Rochelle, from the Middle Ages to the modern era. Its brick parapet and remains recall the Renaissance military construction techniques, as well as the religious conflicts that marked the region.

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