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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Maubec Gate is an old town gate built between the 4th quarter of the 16th century and the 1st quarter of the 17th century in La Rochelle. It was part of the fortifications of the Protestant enclosure, authorized by Henry IV between 1590 and 1610 to include the Maubec pree. Perched in 1611, it replaced a medieval gate with the church of Saint-Sauveur and giving access to the canal of the same name. It is one of the few remains of the fortifications of this period, having survived the siege of 1627-1628 and the destruction of the enclosure from 1689.

In the 18th century, the Maubec Gate was used for private purposes, then as a warehouse for a brandy store and for the Saint Louis Hospital in the 19th century. In the 21st century, it was completely renovated to become a cultural space welcoming exhibitions and artistic events. Ranked a historic monument by order of 14 May 1999, it includes remains of courtine and a filled ditch. Its interior decoration, like the gypsy of the door, could date from the late eighteenth century.

The Maubec gate illustrates the evolution of the fortifications of the Rock, marked by the religious conflicts of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. Its architecture reflects the military adaptations of the time, while showing its subsequent civilian re-employment. Today located 6 rue Saint-Louis, it is a symbol of the defensive and cultural heritage of La Rochelle, in the department of Charente-Maritime (Nouvelle-Aquitaine).

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