Initial construction milieu du XIVe siècle (≈ 1450)
Building of ramparts and four gates.
1758
Demolition of a door
Demolition of a door 1758 (≈ 1758)
A door tower destroyed for ruin.
XIXe-XXe siècles
Major transformations
Major transformations XIXe-XXe siècles (≈ 1865)
Demolition, piercing, filling the ditches.
3 juillet 1900
Partial classification
Partial classification 3 juillet 1900 (≈ 1900)
Tower protection (low door, high door, rear door).
9 août 2012
Overall registration
Overall registration 9 août 2012 (≈ 2012)
Protection extended to the entire enclosure.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
Towers of the ramparts: a- low door, b- high door, c- rear door: classification by order of 3 July 1900 - The fully fortified enclosure, comprising the following elements (see plan annexed to the decree): the Wall (visible and reconstituted); The flanking towers; The wall of counterscarp (visible and reconstituted); the Fossé (visible and reconstituted) and its plate; access; Bridges (cds. 001 87, 88A, 88B, 101 to 104, 127, 128, 131, 133, 139, 140, 143 to 147, 152, 155, 199A, 199B, 200, 203, 204, 209, 210, 215, 241, 251, 287, 295, 296, 299, 300, 310, 312 to 314, 318, 323; 002 80 to 83, 108, 109, 310; 009 13, 14, 17, 160, 378, 452, 498, 560): inscription by order of 9 August 2012
Key figures
Bechtold de Bucheck - Manufacturer assigned
Associated with the tower of the second quarter of the 14th.
Origin and history
The ramparts of Boersch, located in the Alsatian village of the same name, date from the 14th century and are a typical example of medieval fortifications designed to protect the towns. Their construction, initiated in the middle of this century, included four city gates integrated into square towers, one of which was demolished in 1758 because of its disrepair. These fortifications were designed to control access and ensure the safety of the inhabitants, reflecting the defensive concerns of the time.
The structure underwent major changes in the 19th and 20th centuries, including partial demolition of the walls, the drilling of new openings, and the filling of ditches. Despite these modifications, parts such as flanking towers, the counterscarp wall and sections of the wall have been preserved or reconstructed. The oldest tower, dated the second quarter of the 14th century, is attributed to Bechtold de Bucheck, a local actor whose exact role in the construction remains partially documented.
Legally, the ramparts have benefited from progressive protection: a partial classification in 1900 for towers (low door, high door, rear door), followed by an overall inscription in 2012 covering the entire enclosure, including ditches, bridges and accesses. This official recognition underlines their heritage value, although the site is now shared between private and communal properties. Recent studies, such as those of Jean-Marie Gyss or Erwin Kern, have led to a deeper understanding of their history and integration into the Alsatian architectural landscape.
Beyond their initial defensive function, the Boersch ramparts illustrate the evolution of urban needs and construction techniques between the Middle Ages and the contemporary era. Their present state, marked by reconstructions and adaptations, offers a fragmentary but precious testimony of the fortified systems that structured medieval villages in Alsace. Their preservation contributes to local collective memory and to the enhancement of regional heritage.
Announcements
Please log in to post a review