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Origin and history

Philippe Auguste's enclosure is a defensive system built in Paris between the late 12th and early 13th centuries (1190–1215). Commanded by King Philippe Auguste before his departure for the third crusade, this stone wall was designed to protect the capital from the attacks of the Plantagenets, whose territories then extended from Normandy to the Pyrenees. Unlike later fortifications, it did not have an initial external ditch, but was later reinforced by technical adaptations, such as ditches and barbacans, to withstand the seats.

Construction began on the right bank (1190–1209), more exposed to threats, before extending to the left bank (1200–1215), less urbanized. A total of 5,385 metres (2,850 m on the right bank, 2,535 m on the left bank), the enclosure covered 253 hectares and housed approximately 50,000 inhabitants. Its financing, estimated at more than 15,000 pounds, was partially borne by the Royal Treasury and the Parisian bourgeois. Semi-cylindrical towers (73 in total) and 14 main gates, including some such as the Saint-Antoine Gate or the Saint-Honoré Gate, structured this rampart 6 to 9 metres high.

The forum played a key role in the urban development of Paris. It incorporated peripheral villages (such as the village of Saint-Germain-l'Auxerrois or the Champeaux district) and favoured the emergence of streets bordered by the rampart, still visible today (rue des Francs-Bourgeois, rue des Fossés-Saint-Bernard). In the 14th century, although partially replaced by Charles V's enclosure on the right bank, it remained on the left bank until the 16th century. Its remains, such as those on Rue des Jardins-Saint-Paul or at Charlemagne High School, testify to its historic importance.

The gradual disappearance of the enclosure began in the 16th century, with the demolition of the doors under Francis I (1533) and the sale of land to private individuals. The ditches, transformed into open sewers, were filled or covered in the 17th century. Despite this, 20 portions are now classified as historical monuments since 1889, including towers integrated into buildings (rue des Rosiers, rue Charlemagne) or courtines visible in private courtyards.

The layout of the enclosure had a lasting impact on the Paris plan. On the right bank, streets like Jean-Jacques-Rousseau or Saint-Honoré follow its oblique alignment, while on the left bank, arteries like the streets of Fossés-Saint-Bernard or Monsieur-le-Prince follow the old route. Four river towers (tour du Coin, tour Barbeau, tournelle des Bernardins) controlled the Seine via chains, a defensive system typical of medieval times.

The current remains, often integrated with private properties, include courtines (rue des Jardins-Saint-Paul), tower bases (lycée Charlemagne, rue des Francs-Bourgeois), or indirect traces such as the orientation of the buildings rue Soufflot. These elements, though fragmentary, offer a unique overview of medieval Paris, then the political and cultural capital of Europe with 250,000 inhabitants in the 14th century.

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