ANCIENS REMPARTS DE MENDE

The enclosure was built around 1160 by Bishop Aldebert III of Tournel against attacks by the local lords of Canillac, Cabrières and Dolan. These ramparts were reinforced by thirteen to sixteen towers and pierced with four to five gates depending on the period, all surrounded by ditches. The Hundred Years War was the occasion for new work: enlargement of the ditches in 1351, repair of the walls. In the 16th or 17th century, the enclosure was adapted to advances in artillery (bastion, gunboats). The 18th century saw the disappearance of almost all of the enclosure. In 1769, the king granted permission to demolish the ramparts, the materials being reused to fill in the ditches. There are currently only a few visible remains of the ramparts. Here, you will discover a curtain wall sixteen meters long in its visible part, extended towards the east by a small polygonal bastion. The two main faces of the bastion each have a gunboat". You have the possibility of discovering a large part of the heritage of Mende for yourself. To do this, we advise you to obtain the Heritage of Mende brochure which is available free of charge at Tourist Office or download Find out more about the historic center of Mende (info, timetables & prices).

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