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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The fortified town gate of Monpazier, located north of Rue Saint-Jacques, is an architectural vestige of the thirteenth century. This monument, typical of medieval bastides, bears witness to the defensive urban planning of the period, with ramparts designed to protect the inhabitants and control access. Its inscription as a Historical Monument by order of 16 October 1936 underlines its heritage importance.

In the 13th century, bastides like Monpazier were new towns founded to structure settlement and trade in Aquitaine. These fortified cities played a key role in trade, crafts and regional security, often under the influence of local lords or kings of France and England. The city gates, like that of Rue Saint-Jacques, symbolized both a protective barrier and a mandatory crossing point for merchants and travellers.

The available data, including data from the Merimée database and Monumentum, indicate that the location of the door is "north of Rue Saint-Jacques", with an approximate address at 62 of the same street. The accuracy of this location is estimated as "passible" (note 5/10), possibly reflecting uncertainties about its exact location or historical boundaries. No additional information is provided on any interior developments or a contemporary tourist vocation.

The protection of the monument by the State in 1936 is part of a desire to preserve the remains of the bastides, characteristic of the medieval heritage of southwestern France. These inscriptions often meet criteria of authenticity and representativeness, even if the sources do not detail the specific motivations for this door. Today its state and accessibility are not documented in the data consulted.

The Creative Commons license associated with the MOSSOT photo indicates a desire for cultural diffusion, but no details are given on the conditions of visit or any services offered (rent, guest rooms). The absence of records on restorations or excavations suggests a monument that has not been studied recently or whose archives are incomplete.

Finally, the Insee code 24280 confirms Monpazier's membership in the department of the Dordogne (New Aquitaine region), in the district of Périgueux. This administrative information places the monument in its current territorial context, although the sources do not make an explicit link between the gate and specific local historic events.

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