Travel Tips

Paris had been the most protected capital in the World.

It had 6 known surrounding walls :

- a Gallo Roman wall
- the Philippe-August Rampart (13° Century)
- the Charles V Wall (15° Century)
- the Louis XIII Wall (17° Century)
- the "Mur des Fermiers Généraux" (1787)
- the "Enceinte de Thiers" (1844)

When the King Philippe-Auguste left Paris to go in Crusade to the Holly Land, he decided to protect his capital against his English cousin, Richard Lion-Heart, with a surrounding wall.

The wall was 28 kilometers long. It had 70 towers. 7 still exist and 3 are still inhabited.

Paris was also protected at the West by the Louvre (not the current building but the former castle, still visible in the Museum basement - see my travelogue) and at the East by La Bastille (which was erected 2 Centuries later).

There are several vestiges in Paris, generally, included within more recent constructions.

For example, at the 47 rue Descartes, there is a part of the pathround, on which some small houses have been built. Unfortunatly, the access is now prohibited.

But there are other examples which can be seen.

If you are interested in this topic and want to know more, see : www.philippe-auguste.com (in French).

This model is on dispaly in the Notre Dame crypt.

It shows the Philippe August rampart and the Wall of Charles 5th (on the North, such as on the top of the model).

What a surprise to meet a vestige of the rampart in a parking of rue Dauphine (6° arrondissement).

Quai Conti, near the Institut (French Academy), there was the Tour de Nesle, at the level of the Seine.

According the legend (and the novellists), the daughters in law of the King Philippe Le Bel, Jeanne and Marguerite of Burgondy, received here their lovers. It was easier after to put them in a bag and to throw them in the River Seine.

Here and there in Paris we can see some remains of the Philippe August rampart.

This part is 5 rue Clovis (5° arrondissement), near the Lutece Arena.

Here is the site of the Porte Bordet, called also Porte Saint Parcel. It was rue Descarte.

This tower is a part of the ancient Artois Mansion, became after the Burgondy Mansion.

It was located against the Philippe August's wall.

It remains the tower at the 20 rue Etienne Marcel. It is called Jean Sans Peur (John without Fear) tower by the name of the Burgondy Duke assassinated during the War with England.