Timeline

Heritage classified

Origin and history

The building in Thouars, near the old bridge, was a historical monument classified by decree of November 8, 1939. This classification specifically concerned its walls, remains of the barbacan associated with the bridge. The building was completely destroyed during the explosion of the bridge in late August 1944, in a context linked to the Second World War.

The ruins of the building, reduced to remains, were finally destroyed in the 1960s. Today, the 1939 classification order still applies to the remains of the bridge barbacan, transforming this space into a public site open to the visit. The exact location, according to the Merimée data, is 5 rue Porte-Maillot in Thouars, in the Deux-Sèvres department.

Available sources, including Monumentum, indicate that the building was linked to the urban history of Thouars, a city marked by its medieval heritage and river infrastructure. The barbacan, a defensive element typical of fortified bridges, illustrates the strategic importance of this type of work in ancient cities. The destruction of 1944 is part of the collateral damage caused by the fighting of the Liberation, frequent in areas crossed by major lines of communication.

External links