Porte fortifiée

English translation

The text above is the record as published by the Ministère de la Culture, in French. The English below is a machine translation made by TreeAlive, not by the Ministère de la Culture; it has not been checked by a person. Where the two differ, the original is the record. Report a translation error: privacy@treealive.com

History

The inhabitants of Fourques depended directly on the king of Majorca. The seigneurie was sold in the 14th century by the queen Yolande of Aragon. The town ramparts are rarely mentioned in the archives. There remain of these fortifications only a few elements of curtain walls built in river pebbles and supporting, without corbelling, a very narrow wall walk. The fortified gate presents the same apparatus of large pebbles in herringbone, laid without any brick banding, which in principle excludes Majorcan influence. The pointed arches, with vertical joint at the summit, indicate on the other hand a relatively late period, rather the end than the middle of the 13th century. The external entrance comprises two successive arches, separated by machicolations, the first arch taller than the second, both resting on bevelled corbels. The rear vault, vaulted in slightly pointed barrel vault, comprises a head arch with keystone at the summit, without imposts at the springings. It supports an element of wall walk, much wider than that existing on certain remains of the curtain walls. Under the passage, at the back of the entrance, remains of a niche.