Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The ramparts of Petit Bayonne, located in Bayonne, New Aquitaine, date mainly from the 16th and 17th centuries. For centuries, this part of the city was protected by brief earthcuts and palisades, punctuated by rare masonry works. It was only at the beginning of the 16th century, with the change in Bayonne's military role, that the transformations of the enclosure became frequent, continuing until Vauban's intervention. These fortifications reflect a gradual adaptation to the defensive needs of the period, marking a break with the earlier, more basic systems.

In the 17th century, the Petit Bayonne was strengthened by a line of fortifications to the southeast, including a complex complex around the Musserolles gate, bordering the Adour. A triangular bastion, protected by a V-shaped counterguard, was erected at the east corner of the triangle formed by the Nive, the Adour and the ramparts. This innovative defensive system integrated ditches connected with the Adour via coffers, allowing quick filling in the event of a seat. Inside the bastion, casemates monitored the covered road and the river, while the counterguard housed a covered shot gallery and gun sites.

The ramparts between the Nive and the Adour were inscribed in the Historical Monuments by order of 3 December 1930, followed by the parts bordering the Adour on 5 May 1931. This military heritage, combining private and state property, bears witness to the defensive techniques of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, combining masonry, hydraulics and topographical strategy. The guard corps added to the entrances later highlighted the continuing evolution of security needs, in a context where Bayonne played a key role in the region's trade and military exchanges.

The current location of the ramparts is considered fair (note 5/10), with an approximate address at 1 Rue du Bastion Sainte-Claire. Their state of conservation and accessibility (visit, rental) are not specified in the available sources, but their listing as Historic Monuments makes them a protected heritage element, representative of the military architecture of New Aquitaine.

External links