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Origin and history

The ramparts of Saint-Lô correspond to the remains of the urban enclosure of the upper city, situated on a rocky promontory overlooking the valley of the Vire and its tributaries, in the department of the Manche. Their construction, initiated in the 13th century by the bishops of Coutances, Barons of Saint-Lô, ended in the 14th century after the plundering of the city by the troops of Edward III of England in 1346. These stone fortifications, flanked by about fifteen towers, gradually replace wooden ramparts built in the 11th century, themselves succeeding fortifications attributed to Charlemagne, damaged by the Vikings in 890.

The ramparts, of quadrangular shape, have a space of 3 to 4 hectares and are now partially preserved, especially on their north, south and west flanks. The destructions of 1944 made it possible to clear their path, revealing walls in small shale apparatus and twelve remaining towers, including the tower of the Beaux-Regards (former tower of the Moulerie) and the tower of the Poudrière, preserved in height. Three fortified gates, including the Dollée Gate and the Milk Gate, pierced in the enclosure, once gave access to the city, while a citadel added in 1574 by Jacques II de Matignon strengthened the system after Protestant occupation.

The enclosure, listed as a historical monument in 1945, also includes underground elements dug by the Germans in 1944 to house a hospital during the bombings. Among the remarkable towers, the Tower of the Fine Regards, with mâchicoulis and artillery blasts, dominates the Pont de Vire and illustrates the adaptation of fortifications to military progress. The remains, now accessible via a walking route, offer a tangible testimony to the turbulent history of Saint-Lô, marked by medieval conflicts and the Second World War.

The protection of the ramparts extends to specific elements such as the poterne of Rue de la Poterne, inscribed in 1937. Their conservation allows us to study the evolution of defensive techniques, from the Carolingian walls to the Renaissance and medieval repairs. The ancient paintings, such as that of Hippolyte Mariette (1882), preserved at the Museum of Art and History of Saint-Lô, complete this visual documentation, although originals were lost in the fire of the castle of Torigni in 1944.

The ramparts play a central role in the urban organization of Saint-Lô, delimiting the "Enclos", a perched historical district that housed religious and civil institutions. Their route, now partially restored, reveals a defensive strategy adapted to the relief, with horse iron or circular towers strengthening the vulnerable points. The destructions of 1944, though devastating, paradoxically allowed to rediscover and enhance these structures, now integrated into a tourist journey highlighting their past function and symbolism for local memory.

Finally, the ramparts of Saint-Lô are part of a wider network of Norman fortifications, reflecting the rivalries between duchy, kingdom of France and English power during the Hundred Years War. Their history, marked by seats (Vikings, Plantagenets, English) and successive modernizations, makes it an emblematic monument of the city's resistance and resilience, now valued as a cultural and historical heritage.

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