Origin and history
The enclosure of Philippe Auguste is an urban fortification system built in Paris from the end of the 12th century, during the reign of Philippe Auguste (1180–1223). This second medieval enclosure, whose route is now known with precision, marked a significant extension of the city, covering for the first time the right and left banks of the Seine. Its construction responded to a tense geopolitical context, marked by conflicts between the King of France and the Plantagenet dynasty, whose territories then spread from Normandy to the Pyrenees. The objective was to protect Paris, especially from attacks from the north and the west, during the absence of the king party for the third crusade.
The wall, 2,850 metres long on the right bank and 2,535 metres long on the left bank, was built in two phases: the right bank from 1190 to 1209, and the left bank from 1200 to 1215. The priority given to the right bank is explained by its proximity to the Plantagenet territories in Normandy, considered more threatening. The enclosure, 6 to 9 metres high and 4 to 6 metres thick, was flanked by 73 semi-cylindrical towers and pierced by 14 main doors, some of which remain in the Parisian toponymy (gate Saint-Denis, gate Saint-Antoine). Its financing, estimated at more than 15,000 pounds, was jointly provided by the Crown and the bourgeois of Paris, the latter probably contributing one third to half the costs.
The forum played a key role in the urban development of Paris. It integrated trading districts such as the Champeaux (future Halles) and favoured the rise of the left bank, where colleges and universities settled, making Paris a major cultural and political centre. At the beginning of the 14th century, the city had 250,000 inhabitants, becoming the largest city in medieval Europe. Although partially replaced by Charles V's enclosure in the 14th century, Philippe Auguste's enclosure remained in use on the left bank until the 16th century. Its ditches, transformed into open sewers, were gradually filled or covered from the 17th century, erasing much of its remains.
Today, the enclosure is mainly visible through its urban footprint: streets traced on old ditches (rue des Fossés-Saint-Bernard, rue Monsieur-le-Prince), or alignments of buildings following its route (rue du Temple, rue des Jardins-Saint-Paul). About 20 portions, classified as historical monuments since 1889, remain in the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th arrondissements. Among the most remarkable remains are a 60-metre courtyard and a tower (tour Montgomery) visible on rue des Jardins-Saint-Paul, as well as tower bases integrated into private buildings (rue du Jour, rue Étienne-Marcel).
The enclosure also illustrates the evolution of medieval defensive techniques. Initially without ditches, it was reinforced in the 14th century by hydraulic structures (flooding of ditches via locks on the Seine) and barbacans in front of the doors. Four massive towers at the ends (Tower of the Corner, Tower of Nesle, Tower Barbeau, Tournelle Saint-Bernard) made it possible to control river navigation thanks to chains stretched across the river. These adjustments reflect the successive adaptations to the progress of artillery and the growing need for circulation, before its gradual disappearance from the 16th century.
Finally, the enclosure symbolizes the transition from Paris to a modern capital. By delineating an urban space of 253 hectares, it made the urban fabric sustainable, as evidenced by the streets across the right bank (street Jean-Jacques-Rousseau) or the central districts (Marais, Latin Quarter). Its heritage can also be seen in street names (gate Saint-Denis, rue des Francs-Bourgeois) and archaeological remains, such as the arches of the Bièvre visible under the post office of Jussieu. Ranked among the oldest monuments in Paris, it remains an essential marker of the medieval history of the city.
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