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All French heritage classified by regions, departments and cities

  2. Patrimoine
  3. Hauts-de-France
  4. Nord
  5. 59570 Bavay

  6. Medieval Pregnant

Medieval Pregnant à Bavay dans le Nord

Nord

Medieval Pregnant

    1 Rue des Clouteries
    59570 Bavay
Photo de Medieval Pregnant
Crédit photo : Leroypy - Sous licence Creative Commons

Timeline

Haut Moyen Âge
Moyen Âge central
Bas Moyen Âge
Renaissance
Temps modernes
Révolution/Empire
XIXe siècle
Époque contemporaine
900
1000
…
1500
1600
1700
1800
1900
2000
IXe siècle
Early medieval fortification
XIIIe–XVe siècle
Expansion by the provosts
XVIe siècle
Post-destruction reconstruction
1992
Protection of walls and foundations
2021
Classification of the ancient forum
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui

Heritage classified

Wall of fortification and (or) its foundations (AC 65, 67, 83, 84, 86 to 88, 115, 122, 128, 129, 135, 146, 147, 155, 156, 165, 167 to 170, 172 to 174, 177, 178, 191, 203, 320, 335/712, 346 to 348, 351, 352, 355, 365, 366, 369, 377, 397, 402, 438, 572, 581, 582, 620, 632, 634, 638, 647, 655, 702, 703, 706, 707, 713, 722, 723, 734): inscription by order of 1 October 1992; In total, the ancient forum, located on 11 November place, on plots n°243, 429, 884 and 885 of the AC section of the cadastre, with all the soils and basements of these plots, as shown in blue on the plan annexed to the decree: classification by order of 1 February 2021

Key figures

Prévôts de Bavay - Medieval sponsors Complete the enclosure (XIIIth-15th century).
Louvois - Minister of War Abandoned Fortification Project (XVIIe).
Vauban - Military engineer Inspired the project not realized.

Origin and history

The medieval enclosure of Bavay is a composite fortification, combining a land rise and a brick and stone parapet, partly inherited from the walls of the Lower Empire on its west flank. Built around the 9th century, it was reinforced between the 13th and 15th centuries by the provosts of Bavay, covering an area of about 300 m by 90 m. The enclosure included three gates (Valenciennes, Mons, Gommeries) connecting the city with commercial routes to Belgium, the Netherlands and Champagne. A round road, still practical today, runs along the remains protected under the Historic Monuments since 1992.

Medieval fortification reused the Gallo-Roman structures of the ancient forum, visible today in the square of 11 November. Ranked in 2021, this archaeological site preserves remains like the Bosses, remains of medieval towers. The enclosure was redone in the 16th century after partial destruction, as evidenced by the album of Croÿ (circa 1560). A project of modernization by Louvois, inspired by Vauban, was finally abandoned. Today, the enclosure crosses private and public properties, with missing or difficult to read portions.

Associated with the Pont des Fées (Gérardmer) and the Gallo-Roman archaeological site, the enclosure illustrates the superposition of the eras: from the Lower Empire to the Renaissance. Its protection covers walls, foundations and floors, reflecting its historical importance. The approximate location (40 Rue des Remparts) and its discontinuous state make its route complex to be understood, despite a classified heritage and a local museum preserving its emblematic remains.

External links

Page Monumentum