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Origin and history

The enclosure of Philippe Auguste, built between 1190 and 1215, is the second medieval wall of Paris whose route is precisely known. Commanded by the king before his departure for the third crusade, it was designed to protect the capital from attacks by the Plantagenets, especially since Normandy. With a total length of 5,385 metres (2,850 m on the right bank, 2,535 m on the left bank), it covered 253 hectares and up to 50,000 inhabitants at the end of the reign. Its financing, estimated at over 15,000 pounds, was partially provided by the Parisian bourgeois.

The construction began with the right bank (1190–1209), which was a priority because of threats from the northwest, while the left bank, less urbanized, was fortified between 1200 and 1215. The enclosure included innovative defensive elements for the era: 73 semi-cylindrical towers spaced from 40 to 110 meters, a round road of 2 meters wide, and doors flanked by 15 meters high towers. Four massive towers (25 m high) controlled river access via chains stretched over the Seine. Despite the initial absence of ditches, later developments in the 14th century added moats and barbacans to adapt the wall to artillery progress.

The forum played a key role in the urban development of Paris. On the right bank, it favoured the extension of the shopping districts (such as the Champeaux, the future site of the Halles) and the alignment of the streets in bias (e.g., rue Jean-Jacques-Rousseau). On the left bank, its route will determine the future streets of the Fossés-Saint-Bernard or Monsieur-le-Prince. Symbol of royal power, it accompanied the transformation of Paris into a political and cultural capital, home to the nascent University and a central administration. In the 14th century, with 250,000 inhabitants, Paris became the largest city in medieval Europe.

From the 16th century, the enclosure lost its military utility. In 1533 François I authorized the demolition of the doors, and the land was gradually sold to private individuals, resulting in the dismantling of large sections. The ditches, transformed into open sewers, were filled or covered in the 17th century. Despite its almost total disappearance, the enclosure left lasting traces: 20 portions classified historical monuments since 1889, including visible remains rue des Jardins-Saint-Paul (4th arr.) or rue du Jour (1st arr.).

Among the outstanding remaining elements are the Montgomery Tower (rue des Jardins-Saint-Paul), where Scottish captain Gabriel de Montgomery was imprisoned after fatally hurting Henry II in a tournament. The Charlemagne High School (4th arr.) also maintains a courtine of 7 meters high in its gymnasium. These relics illustrate medieval engineering: medium-sized walls filled with rubble, vaulted wooden towers, and defensive slots. The enclosure also marked the Parisian topography by its iconic doors, such as the Saint-Denis Gate or the Saint-Jacques Gate, whose names persist in the urban landscape.

The legacy of the enclosure goes beyond its defensive role. It structured the Parisian space by setting administrative and fiscal limits, and directing urbanization to the interior of the walls. Its layout influenced even the major Haussmannian works, with some boulevards (such as Sebastopol) partially resuming its alignment. Today, the remains, often integrated with private properties (e.g. cellars of the Poulletier Hotel, Rue de Sévigné), offer a rare testimony of Capetian military architecture. Associations such as Les Promenades du Patrimoine organize visits to discover these unknown fragments, ranked among the oldest monuments in Paris.

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