Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

Tillac's ramparts, built between the 14th and 15th centuries, once formed a defensive system surrounding the village. Today, only two elements remain: a town gate with an ogival arch and a square tower, called the clock. The latter, three-storey high, presented defense devices as an axial killer protecting the entrance. Its masonry walls, partially preserved on three sides, were connected to a courtine now extinct. The interior facade, made of wood, contrasted with the robustness of the external defences.

The East Tower, nicknamed dungeon, was located inside the enclosure and also adopts a square plane. Although the associated door and courtine disappeared, their layout once extended the exterior façade. Subsequent changes, such as the demolition of the crenelage and the last floor, altered its original appearance. The tower and gate are the only material evidence of the strategic importance of Tillac in the Middle Ages, when fortified villages played a key role in protecting local populations and resources.

Ranked a Historical Monument by order of 11 December 1925, the former dungeon is now owned by the commune. Its location in Gers, Occitanie, reflects the military architecture typical of the small rural seigneuries of the area. The remains, though fragmentary, illustrate medieval construction techniques, mixing stone masonry and wood-pan structures, adapted to local means. The accuracy of their current location is considered fair (note 5/10), highlighting the limitations of the available data on their past state.

External links