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Origin and history

Philippe Auguste's enclosure is an urban fortification system built in Paris from the end of the 12th century, during the reign of Philippe Auguste. This second medieval enclosure, whose route is now known with precision, was built to protect the capital from external attacks, especially those of the Plantagenets, while the king set out for the third crusade. It included a space of 253 hectares and marked a turning point in the urban development of Paris, promoting the expansion of the central districts and the emergence of the city as a political, cultural and economic centre.

The construction began on the right bank between 1190 and 1209, followed by the left bank between 1200 and 1215. The right bank, more exposed to threats, was given priority, while the left bank, less urbanized, was later fortified. The enclosure, a total length of 5,385 metres (2,850 m on the right bank and 2,535 m on the left bank), was composed of a creneled wall of 6 to 9 metres high, flanked by 73 semi-cylindrical towers and pierced by 14 main doors. Its financing, estimated at more than 15,000 pounds, was provided in part by the Royal Treasury and the Parisian bourgeois.

It played a key role in the protection of Paris and its population growth, with the population increasing to 250,000 in the 14th century. Despite the subsequent construction of Charles V's enclosure in the 14th century, Philippe Auguste's was not demolished immediately. It was gradually adapted to new seat techniques, with the addition of ditches and barbacans. However, from the 16th century onwards, the doors were demolished and the land sold, leading to the gradual dismantling of the wall. Today, only scattered remains, such as those visible on 15 rue de l'Ave-Maria in the 4th arrondissement, testify to its existence.

The layout of the enclosure left a lasting impression on the Paris plan. On the right bank, streets such as rue Jean-Jacques-Rousseau or rue des Jardins-Saint-Paul follow its old route, while on the left bank, streets such as the Fossés-Saint-Bernard or Monsieur-le-Prince have been traced along its old ditches. The enclosure also included river defensive elements, such as towers controlling navigation on the Seine (turn of the Corner, tower of Nesle, tower Barbeau, tower of the Bernardins), connected by chains to block the passage of the boats.

Among the remains still visible, some have been classified as historical monuments since 1889. The 60-metre section of rue des Jardins-Saint-Paul, including a tower called the Montgommery Tower, or remains in the cellars of Rue de Sévigné or in the Charlemagne High School. Other indirect traces remain, such as narrow buildings or street alignments revealing the old route. These relics offer a valuable insight into medieval Parisian urbanism and its evolution over the centuries.

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