Ancienne porte fortifiée

English translation

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History

The village is built in amphitheatre fashion on the flank of a hill overlooking the Gard valley. This hill was fortified at an early date. The mention of castrum appears from 1050 and concerns the ruins of the old castle situated on the upper plateau. According to existing remains, the fortification of the village dates back at least to the 13th century, or to the end of the 12th. This defensive organization comprised a certain number of gates, staggered along the route from the base of the hill to the summit. The streets also made use of underground passages. The main accesses were defended by gates. The gate here protected may be the one called the Bitarne gate. The date of construction is not known. The layout of the arches, the defensive arrangement and the rustic masonry seem to indicate the 13th century. At a relatively recent period (perhaps at the end of the 17th century), the gate was surmounted by a small belfry serving both as a watch tower and a clock tower. The work opens, on the country side, by an outer round arch, resting on pillars. The arch is followed by machicolations and then by the entrance arch in round form. The back voussure is the result of a repair. The tympanum between these two arches was built and then pierced with a window. Another window, the result of an old alteration, lights the upper storey.