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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Roman enclosure of Venasque, located in the department of Vaucluse, is a fortification mainly dated from the fourth century, although traces of construction date back to the first century and consolidations took place until the twelfth century. Placed on a rocky spur offering natural protection, the city was vulnerable only on the southeast side. To remedy this, the Romans built an imposing wall at the end of the third century, replacing a more modest work. This rampart was strengthened at the end of the fourth century, then during the Merovingian period, when Venasque became the seat of a bishopric.

The structure is characterized by a large aircraft rampart, punctuated by three semicircular towers. Ranked a historic monument by decree of 15 March 1892, the enclosure underwent a controversial restoration shortly afterwards: the door was wrongly rebuilt in a style evoking a castle, under the auspices of the services of the Historic Monuments. This intervention, although anachronistic, illustrates the restoration practices of the 19th century, often marked by fanciful interpretations of ancient heritage.

Today, the enclosure belongs to the municipality of Venasque and remains a major testimony of the evolution of defensive techniques, from Roman to medieval times. Its state of conservation and its complex history make it a key site for understanding the urban and military dynamics in Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, between late Antiquity and the Middle Ages.

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