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Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

La Porte de Villars is a vestige of the medieval fortifications of Châtillon-sur-Chalaronne, located in the Ain department, in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region. Directed to Villars-les-Dombes, from which it derives its name, it was one of the main entrances of the enclosure built between 1273 and 1321. Its architecture reflects the defensive techniques of the time, with niches partially modified in the 20th century.

Originally, the door was equipped with a drawbridge crossing the ditches surrounding the city. In the 18th century, the building was transformed into a master house, illustrating the evolution of its use after the loss of its military function. The traces of these developments remain, mixing medieval heritage and subsequent adaptations.

Ranked a historic monument since 13 July 1926, the gate of Villars bears witness to the strategic importance of Châtillon-sur-Chalaronne in the Middle Ages. Its inscription in the Merimée base and its precise location (12 Victor-Hugo Street) make it a key element of the local heritage, linked to the history of the Dombes and its fortifications.

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