Annex of Burgundy 1470 (règne de Louis XI) (≈ 11)
Fortifications strengthened by four boulevards.
3 octobre 1929
First entry MH
First entry MH 3 octobre 1929 (≈ 1929)
Partial protection of the remains of the ramparts.
10 septembre 1937
Second entry MH
Second entry MH 10 septembre 1937 (≈ 1937)
Extension of existing heritage protection.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Key figures
Louis XI - King of France
The fortifications were strengthened.
Origin and history
Beaune's fortifications formed a defensive ensemble designed to protect the city. Under the reign of Louis XI, after the annexation of the Duchy of Burgundy to the kingdom of France, the city was endowed with a royal castle and its ramparts were reinforced by four boulevards: the towers of the Daughters, the Grosse Tour, and the towers of the Ladies and Cordeliers. These adjustments reflected the military strategy of the time to secure the new borders of the kingdom.
The current remains are limited to four towers of the castle and sections of the old ramparts. These elements were partially preserved by their inscription in historical monuments by decrees of 3 October 1929 and 10 September 1937, bearing witness to their heritage importance. The enclosure illustrates the evolution of fortification techniques between the Middle Ages and the modern era, while marking Beaune's urban history.
The partial preservation of these fortifications allows today to study medieval defensive systems in Burgundy. The towers still standing, like the Grosse Tour, offer a concrete overview of the military architecture of the period, while the remains of the ramparts recall the original extent of the enclosure. These elements are documented in the General Heritage Inventory (notice IA21000124) and accessible via the Open Heritage Platform.
