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Origin and history

The enclosure of Richelieu was built in the 17th century to surround a new city created by Cardinal Richelieu, on plans designed by architects Jacques Lemercier and his brothers Pierre and Nicolas. Authorised by Louis XIII in 1631, this ideal city, completed around 1642, is distinguished by its geometrical plane, its ditches and its three monumental doors (Paris/Chinon, Loudun, Château/Châtellerault), supplemented by fake doors to preserve symmetry. The enclosure, more symbolic than defensive, marked the border between the "city" — benefiting from tax exemptions — and the "town", while affirming the prestige of its founder.

The work involved more than 2,000 workers to erect a quadrangular wall of 620 metres by 390 (including ditches), initially pierced by three real doors and three false doors. Two of these were opened in the 19th century to facilitate access to the railway station and the Bouchard Island road. The mortals in the walls remained unfinished, and four pavilions marked the corners of the city. The complex, classified as a historic monument in 1879, also includes pavilions adjacent to the doors, registered in 1992 for their facades and roofs.

The financing of the fortifications and the gates was provided by Louis XIII, according to the letters patent of 1631, while the entrepreneur Jean Thiriot was mentioned as possible manager of the works. The enclosure remains largely today, with its four monumental doors flanked by pavilions, testifying to the cardinal's urban ambition. Its regular layout, inspired by classical principles, reflects the desire to create a model city, both functional and aesthetic, serving the glory of its sponsor.

Beyond its urban role, the compound was used to materialize the privileges granted to the inhabitants of the interior, such as tax exemptions. This legal distinction between the interior (the "city") and the exterior (the "town") underlined the exceptional status of the city, conceived as a symbol of cardinal power. Subsequent changes, such as the opening of two false gates in the 19th century, met practical needs related to the evolution of local transport and urban planning.

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