I was in my road warrior campaign in the Loire valley and took a side step into the Nouvelle Aquitaine region to stop by Loudun. It goes without saying the choices are endless in my belle France. Sometimes difficult to choose where to go next….We came upon a pretty town and an impressive architecture and history, I heard about it and wanted to visit! Therefore, this is my take using pictures from other older posts to show more Briefly, Loudun is located in the Vienne department no 86 in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region of my belle France, Therefore, this is my take on the fortified walls of Loudun !!! Hope you enjoy the post as I,
The enclosure area refers to the remnants of the town’s extensive medieval fortifications and defensive walls or ramparts. The fortress and its complex system of walls and moats were originally expanded by Philip Augustus in the early 13C, but the stronghold was largely dismantled under Louis XIII and Cardinal Richelieu to prevent it from remaining a Protestant stronghold.
You still see the Tour Carrée or Square Tower , a 31-meters high watchtower that serves as the most prominent surviving element of the old fortress. It features an exceptional panorama of the town and a medieval-inspired medicinal plant garden, The Porte du Martray (see pic below) ; the only remaining entry gate of the four original fortified gates that once provided access through the town’s urban enclosure walls. The moats and ramparts (see pic above) shows distinct traces of the 13C moats and wall outlines still encircle the historic town center
The current architectural state of the Martray Tower is not its original one. Since its construction in the 14C, the Porte du Martray has undergone numerous modifications. It evolved from a defensive gateway featuring a drawbridge into a fixed-bridge checkpoint where merchants were required to pay the octroi or local municipal tax. Furthermore, its top floor was likely destroyed during the earthquake of 1711. Restoration of the Porte du Martray began in September 2013 and was completed in 2015. An initial room now presents a video on the history of the gateway, while the upper level houses an exhibition space. Finally, there is a terrace that offers a panoramic view of the surrounding neighborhood ,including the Church of Saint-Hilaire, and the city itself.
At its peak, the city was defended by ramparts spanning 3 km in length, reinforced with 4 fortified gates, and surrounded by defensive moats reaching 8 meters deep. While Cardinal Richelieu ordered the demolition of Loudun’s great castle complex in 1628, significant remnants of its fortifications survive today.The dry moats surrounding Loudun were so wide that they were often adapted for civilian use over time. Notably, during a royal visit to the citadel by King Charles IX in 1565, a real tennis court (jeu de paume) was set up right inside the empty moats, where the king and his retinue practiced crossbow shooting and tennis.
The town of Loudun on the porte du Martray : https://www.ville-loudun.fr/decouvrir-loudun-1/monuments-loudun/porte-du-martray-loudun
The Loudun tourist office on its heritage : https://tourisme-loudunais.com/en/destinations/loudun/
The Vienne dept 86 tourist office on the porte du Martray : https://www.tourisme-vienne.com/en/offers/strong-castles/Martyr%27s-Gate/
There you go folks, another dandy town in another region of my belle France. This is Loudun worth the detour and we will be back for more soon. Again, hope you enjoy this post on the fortified walls of Loudun !!! as I.
And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all !!!
