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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The gate and towers of the Old Port of Cognac, also known as the Porte Saint-Jacques, constitute one of the few remains of the medieval ramparts of the city. Located on the quays of the Charente, they were part of a defensive system comprising three doors (Saint-Martin, Angoumoisine and Saint-Jacques) and a bridge linking the city to the Saint-Jacques district, on the other bank. The first square towers, dating from the 12th century, were replaced around 1500 by the current round towers, made of limestone. The door, with a slightly broken arch, is flanked by mâchicoulis and decorated with carved gargoyles.

Over the centuries, the monument has undergone several uses and transformations. After the Revolution, the towers served as a prison until 1860. The adjacent medieval bridge was destroyed in 1855, replaced by a "new bridge" completed in 1850. Restoration campaigns took place in the 19th and 20th centuries, notably under the direction of architect Paul Abadie (1819–24), then in 1897 and 1972. The gate was listed as a historic monument in 1925 and in 2021 received a 250,000 euro grant under the Heritage Lotto, allowing renovations to be launched in December 2023.

The architecture of the monument reflects its defensive and symbolic role. The two towers, vaulted in a full-cintra cradle, are surmounted by paved terraces and mâchicoulis with crows decorated with accolades and shells. Local limestone, used for construction, and carved gargoyles add an aesthetic dimension to this military work. The Saint James Gate thus illustrates the evolution of fortification techniques between the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, while at the same time testifying to Cognac's urban history, linked to the river and its exchanges.

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