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Origin and history

The Uzès ramparts, located in the Gard in the Occitanie region, are part of an urban history marked by successive fortifications. Their origin dates back to at least the 12th century, when three distinct towers are attested: the King's Tower, the Bishop's Tower and the Bermonde Tower (or Ducale). These towers symbolized the three co-existing powers at Uzès – royal, episcopal and seigneurial – and were integrated into a defensive enclosure built in the 13th century. This fortified system isolated the political and religious heart of the city, reflecting tensions between the local authorities and the centralizing ambitions of the crown.

Over the centuries, the ramparts have been adapted to strategic and judicial needs. As early as 1242, the bishop's tower was acquired by the bishopric and partially transformed into a prison, while the King's tower, sold in 1274, also served as a place of detention. In the 17th century, a chapel was built in the tower of the King, decorated with trompe-l'oeil paintings, illustrating an evolution towards less military uses. The prisons, built around 1800 near the ramparts, remained active until the 20th century, reflecting the sustainability of these structures in everyday life.

The ramparts were also the scene of the religious conflicts that marked Uzès. During the wars of Religion in the 16th century, the city, mostly Protestant, suffered massive destruction, including that of the cathedral in 1563. Fortifications, reinforced by consuls to protect citizens, become a strategic issue in the face of Catholic troops. In 1629 Louis XIII ordered the partial demolition of the external defences after the surrender of Uzes, marking the end of the Huguenot revolts and the affirmation of royal authority. This decision symbolizes the transition to an era of relative peace, where ramparts are gradually losing their military role.

In the 19th century, the ramparts, considered obsolete, were partially destroyed to modernize the city. The Clock Tower was added in 1831 on the Bishop's Tower, while the ditches were filled in 1725 to create walks. These transformations reflect a change of priorities: urban health and aesthetics now take precedence over defence. Despite these changes, the remains of the ramparts, classified as Historical Monument in 1979, remain a tangible testimony of the turbulent history of Uzes, between feudal conflicts, wars of Religion and integration into the kingdom of France.

Today, the Uzes ramparts, with their three emblematic towers, embody the memory of a city where political, religious and economic powers have crossed. Their preservation, initiated in the 1960s with the classification as a protected area, allows us to understand the evolution of a medieval city that has become a heritage jewel of Occitanie. Recent archaeological excavations, such as the discovery of a Neolithic cromlech in 2019, also recall that Uzes's history largely precedes its fortifications, simmering in a millennium human occupation.

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