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Origin and history

The ramparts of Courthézon constitute a fortified enclosure built in the 12th century in the department of Vaucluse, in Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur. According to the sources, the stones used would come from the same quarries as those used by the Romans for the ancient Orange theatre. Originally, the enclosure was 1,225 metres long, but after several demolitions and reconstructions, only 600 metres remain today, accompanied by three of the four original doors: the Aurouze gate (in the north), the Belle Croix gate and the Prince's door, named in tribute to Guillaume de Nassau, welcomed at Courthézon after his expulsion from Orange in 1604.

In 1673 Louis XIV ordered the destruction of the ramparts of the principality of Orange, but those of Courthézon were preserved, making this village one of the few to preserve part of its medieval fortifications. Repair work in the 17th and 18th centuries concerned walls, doors and towers. After their transfer by the commune in 1860, their condition deteriorated, although a plan of 1862 attested to their complete visibility at that time. Today, the most monumental parts, spanning several hundred meters, belong to the city.

The fortifications have been partially classified as Historic Monument since 1984 and 2012, covering elements such as courtine walls, Convent Tower and Hospice Tower. Their conservation illustrates the turbulent history of this region, marked by political conflicts and successive reconstructions. The ramparts also bear witness to the techniques of medieval construction and the adaptation of provencal villages to the defensive stakes of their time.

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