Construction of main enclosure 1196–1230 (≈ 1213)
7 km of wall, 70 towers and 18 doors
1381
Construction of the Grid Bridge
Construction of the Grid Bridge 1381 (≈ 1381)
Defended by the Tower of Spirits
1437
Camoufle Tower Building
Camoufle Tower Building 1437 (≈ 1437)
Named after gunman Jacob de Castel
1444–1445
Modification of the German Gate
Modification of the German Gate 1444–1445 (≈ 1445)
Adding an Advanced Work
1526–1531
Construction of the Dex caponière
Construction of the Dex caponière 1526–1531 (≈ 1529)
Grotesque decors and fake chalk
XVIe siècle
Integration of the citadel
Integration of the citadel XVIe siècle (≈ 1650)
Partial replacement with bastions
1901–1906
Partial demolition of ramparts
Partial demolition of ramparts 1901–1906 (≈ 1904)
Creation of the circular boulevard
1929–1971
Historic Monument Protections
Historic Monument Protections 1929–1971 (≈ 1950)
Camoufle Tower, German Gate, etc.
2007
Last restoration campaign
Last restoration campaign 2007 (≈ 2007)
Preservation of medieval remains
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Key figures
Jacob de Castel (dit Camoufle) - 15th century gunner
Give his name to the Camoufle Tower
Philippe Dex - Military engineer
Design the caponière (1527–1531)
Paul Tornow - German architect (XIXe s.)
Restore the German Gate
Origin and history
The medieval ramparts of Metz succeed the Gallo-Roman fortifications to protect the city, then prosperous with 30,000 inhabitants. Built between 1196 and 1230, they span more than 5.5 km, integrating 70 square or round towers maintained by business corporations (boulangers, tailors, etc.). Each tower, named after its corporation, stored food to withstand a six-month siege. The enclosure, reinforced by feudal conflicts in Lorraine, has 18 strategic doors such as the German gate or the Serpenoise gate.
In the 14th and 15th centuries, the defences were completed: the bridge of the Grids (1381), defended by the Tower of the Spirits (the so-called "Sorcières"), and the Camoufle Tower (1437), named after the Artilleur Jacob de Castel. In 1444-1445, the German gate was changed with an advanced work, then a false chalk and a caponière decorated with grotesque motifs (including a provocative figure towards the enemy) were added between 1526 and 1531 by Philippe Dex. These elements illustrate the constant adaptation of the ramparts to seat techniques.
In the 16th century, the arrival of the citadel of Metz led to the partial replacement of the medieval ramparts by a system based on the left bank of the Moselle. Despite demolitions at the beginning of the 20th century to create the current circular boulevard (boulevard Maginot, avenue Foch), 1.5 km of the original enclosure remains between the German gate and the bridge of the Grids. Major remains — German Gate, Camoufle Tower, Serpenoise Gate — are protected as historical monuments between 1929 and 1971.
The ramparts reflect the turbulent history of Metz, a free city of the Empire coveted by its neighbours. Their maintenance by the corporations bears witness to the medieval collective organization, where each trade contributed to the defence. The successive changes (cannonies, caponières) also reveal the evolution of military techniques, from feudal struggles to modern wars. Today, these remains offer a unique overview of medieval defensive architecture in Lorraine.
The last restoration campaign dates back to 2007, preserving emblematic elements such as the Dex caponière, decorated with diamond tips and grotesque masks, or the Tower of Spirits, which eclipsed in 1944 and revealed Gothic vaults. These architectural details, combining military utility and symbolism, underline the practical and cultural role of the ramparts in Messina history.
