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Origin and history

The walls of Falaise constitute a medieval fortified complex of about two kilometers in length, designed to protect the city. Their elliptical route, 250 to 900 metres long, was marked by about fifty circular towers and six doors, two of which remain partially: the Gate of the Cordeliers (XIII and XVII centuries) and the Gate of Lecomte (XIII century). The enclosure, reinforced in the 15th century by the English, incorporates remains such as the Marescot poterne or the Bocey gate, now missing or reduced to architectural traces.

The initial construction dates back at least to the beginning of the 12th century, under the impulse of Henry I Beauclerc who had Falaise fortified in 1123. Although the exact date of the construction of the first ramparts remains unknown, their current structure reflects successive changes, particularly in the thirteenth and seventeenth centuries. The materials and the layout reveal an adaptation to the defensive needs, with flanking towers and strategic doors such as the Castle or Guibray, now missing or integrated into the urban fabric.

Ranked or listed as historical monuments between 1927 and 1951, the remains of the ramparts include protected elements such as the remains of the Lecomte Gate (registered in 1927) or the Cordeliers Gate (classified in 1930). The enclosure, partially visible via intramural streets such as the rue du Camp-Fermé or rue Georges-Clémenceau, offers a historical route marked by cylindrical towers and preserved sections. These legal protections also cover specific sections, such as those between the gate of the Castle and the gate of Guibray, or between the Marescot gate and the road of Caen.

The "walk of the ramparts" allows you to discover these remains by following a pedestrian route along the old fortifications. Starting from the Philippe-Jean gate (rebuilt in the 18th century but originally from the 12th century), the route passes near the cylindrical tower of the Gate of the Cordeliers, then joins the Lecomte gate at the northeast end, near the church of Saint-Gervais. The streets of Victor-Hugo, Admiral-Courbet, or Gambetta pass through sections where towers or foundations remain, testifying to the strategic importance of Falaise in the Middle Ages.

The ramparts illustrate the evolution of defensive techniques in Normandy, marked by conflicts between French and English. Their present state, between ruins and restored elements, reflects both their past military role and their gradual integration into the urban landscape. The successive protections (1927, 1930, 1951) emphasize their heritage value, while their layout recalls the original l-ellipse, adapted to the local topography. Today, these remains offer a tangible testimony of the medieval history of Falaise, between ducal heritage and foreign occupations.

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