Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

The Thuars ramparts, located in the Deux-Sèvres department in New Aquitaine, were built mainly in the 12th and 13th centuries to protect the city, then enclaved between the Capetian and Plantagenet territories. This nearly 4.5 km long, nine-metre-high, 37-round reinforced enclosure reflects the geopolitical tensions of the time. It was pierced by three large doors, including the Porte au Prévost, by which Bertrand du Guesclin entered in 1372 after five months of siege, marking the definitive attachment of Thouars to the crown of France.

In the Middle Ages, Thouars was a strategic Viscount, controlled by a line of Viscounts from the 9th century. The city, destroyed in 762 by Pépin the Short, was rebuilt and fortified to resist the conflicts between French and English. The ramparts, of which only remains today such remains as the Prince of Wales Tower and the Provost Gate Tower, symbolize this tumultuous period. Their architecture combines defensive elements (taluted towers, poternes) and war-related adaptations, such as partial destruction during 14th century conflicts.

The city, annexed to France after 1372, gradually lost its political autonomy, but its ramparts remained a key element of its urban landscape. In the 19th century, parts were destroyed, such as the Paris Gate, to modernize the city. Today classified Historical monuments (since 1943), these remains recall the military and feudal history of Thouars, as well as its role in the struggles between Capetians and Plantagenets.

The ramparts are integrated into the current urban heritage, visible especially near Imbert Park and along the Thouet. Their preservation makes it possible to understand the evolution of Thouars, passed from a medieval citadel to a city labeled City of art and history. Their study also reveals construction techniques characteristic of the 12th–13th centuries, such as the use of talute-based towers to strengthen stability.

The Prevost Gate Tower, classified, is particularly emblematic: it combines a 12th century rectangular tower and a 13th century Plantagenet structure, illustrating the architectural transitions of the era. The Prince of Wales Tower, on the other hand, served as a prison and food depot, testifying to daily life in a fortress. These elements, combined with local archaeological excavations, shed light on military and civilian life in Thouars in the Middle Ages.

Finally, the ramparts are part of a larger heritage complex, including the Château des Ducs de La Tremeille and the churches of Saint-Laon and Saint-Médard. Their history is inseparable from that of the Viscounts of Thouars, then of the families of Amboise and La Tremeille, who marked the city until the Revolution. Today, they are a place of memory and a tourist asset for Thouars, ranked 4 flowers in the competition of flowery cities.

External links