Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The enclosure of Montreal, located in the department of Yonne, is a medieval fortified complex composed of three distinct enclosures. These fortifications successively protected the lower town, the upper town and the castle with its collegiate. Although partially dismantled in 1597 by order of Henry IV, the remaining structures, such as the walls, round or quadrangular towers, and the doors of En-Bas and En-Haut, remain very legible in the current urban landscape.

The gate of En-Bas, located at the lower end of the Grande Rue, marked the entrance of the first enclosure surrounding the low village established on hillside. The gate of En-Haut, at the other end of the same street, connected the second enclosure (high-bourg) to the third, protecting the castle and the college. The latter door has undergone reshuffles, including the addition of bells at the end of the 19th century (a bell dated 1897 remains). A watch station called the Carcasson, partially preserved, completed this defensive system.

Ranked as historical monuments in 1923 (for both gates) and 1927 (for specific elements), these fortifications testify to the strategic importance of Montreal in the Middle Ages. Their dismantling in 1597 is part of a royal policy of post-war pacification of Religion, aimed at weakening local strongholds. Today, the remains belong to the municipality and remain accessible, offering an overview of medieval defensive urban planning.

External links