Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Porte de la Cadène de Saint-Émilion is a historical monument whose construction seems to go back to the 13th century, with significant changes in the 15th century. It is backed by a modified Romanesque house, with a wooden facade on the street. This building was connected to another house by the arch of the Cadena, which once bound the border between the lower city and the upper city of Saint-Emilion. The rivalry between the inhabitants of these two districts led to a chain (caden) under the arch every night, symbolizing physical and social separation.

The arch itself is ogival in style, leaning on one side on a rock adjacent to a house with sill windows, and on the other on a corbelled turret dating back to the 15th century. Three wooden poles leave the ground to support a chest decorated with carved motifs, such as a torsade engulfed by monster heads or interlaced dolphins. At the top of the poles, mutilated statuettes (perhaps angels) overlook erased shields, testimonies of a past today partly illegible. These decorative elements reflect medieval craftsmanship and the symbolic importance of this door in urban history.

The Gate of the Cadena and the adjoining wooden house were classified as Historic Monument by order of 20 July 1920, recognizing their heritage value. Their location at 7 Rue de la Cadène makes it an emblematic crossing point in the historic centre of Saint-Émilion. The building illustrates medieval social tensions, while embodying the architectural ingenuity of the period, mixing stone, wood and sculptures.

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