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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Cadillac ramparts form a set of fortified remains, mainly dating from the 14th century, located around the centre of Cadillac-sur-Garonne, Gironde. These fortifications, built to protect the bastide founded in 1280 by John I of Grailly, Sénéchal of Edward I of England, include elements such as the Sea Gate, the Clock Gate, and several towers. The polygonal enclosure, containing three circular towers, was completed by ditches to the east and north, and integrated into the city's defensive system.

The enclosure has undergone several modifications over the centuries: restorations of the doors and the destruction of some towers in the 16th century, the integration of the castle in the 17th century partially modifying the enclosure, and major transformations in the 18th and 19th centuries, such as the partial filling of the ditches or the destruction of the door of the Chapter. The current remains, including a wall section with the so-called Porte Garonne square tower and courtines flanked by round towers, have been classified as historical monuments since 1881 and 1886. These remains illustrate the evolution of the defensive techniques and urban history of Cadillac.

Cadillac's bastide, founded in a context of Franco-English rivalry in Aquitaine, was a strategic place. The ramparts, designed to resist the assaults, also reflect the political stakes of the time, marked by the plantagenet domination. The ditches and palissades of the thirteenth century, now disappeared, completed this arrangement. In the 19th century, restorations preserved part of this heritage, such as the elevation of the Sea Gate. Today, these remains are at the heart of an urban development project designed to enhance the esplanade of the ramparts and its environment.

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