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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Jane Gate is a medieval gate integrated into the inner enclosure of Cordes-sur-Ciel, a bastide founded in the 13th century. It was built during the construction of the city between 1222 and 1229, under the impetus of the Count of Toulouse Raymond VII, in the context of the Albigois conflicts. The city, mentioned in the Treaty of Meaux-Paris (1229) as a stronghold of Albigeois, was erected in just seven years, reflecting its strategic role in the region.

The door has a vault in the middle of the hanger surmounted by crows, remains of an old scauguette, and was protected by a harrow and a wooden door with two wings. Two archeries surround the entrance, while stones reddened by fire testify to fighting during religious wars. A sculpture on the lintel suggests that the guard body once housed a shoemaker's workshop. With two towers covered with canal tiles, the door combines defensive function and traces of daily life.

Ranked a historic monument in 1962, the gate benefited from a ten-year restoration, led by the Society of Friends of the Old Cords with the support of the DRAC, the Occitanie region, the Tarn department and the municipality. The work aimed to secure the structure, install windows to seal the interior and preserve the original equipment, while respecting its authenticity.

The Jane Gate illustrates the turbulent history of Cordes-sur-Ciel, between medieval conflicts, artisanal life and contemporary preservation efforts. Its architecture, combining military and civilian elements, makes it a rare testimony of the bastids of the South West, linked to both the 13th century urban growth and the religious struggles of the following centuries.

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