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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Porte Saint-Jean is a medieval building located in La Souterraine, in the Creuse department, in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region. Originally built in the 13th century with the fortified enclosure, it was probably raised and rebuilt in the 15th century. It is, with the gate of Puy-Charraud, one of the only remains preserved of the medieval fortifications of the city.

The tower, entirely granite, rises for 25 metres and has a rectangular base flanked by two corbelled turrets. Its top is crowned with niches and mâchicoulis, while its façade retains cruciform murderers and traces of a harrow and a drawbridge. Inside, it has three levels, but is only accessible from the courtine on the first floor. The second floor is a single room of 4 meters by 1.90 meters, and the third level consists of a platform covered with flat tiles.

The Saint John Gate served as a prison until 1860, before being classified as historic monuments by order of 30 July 1920. Today it belongs to the commune of La Souterraine. Its architecture reflects the defensive needs of the city in the Middle Ages, while illustrating the transformations experienced over the centuries, particularly in the fifteenth century, when it was raised.

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