Remparts de la ville

English translation

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History

A stronghold blocking the road to Spain and defending the Conflent, the town was fortified from the 11th century onwards to defend access to Cerdagne against Roussillon. In founding the town, the count of Cerdagne Guillaume-Raymond surrounded it with a wall flanked by towers. The part from this period which still subsists, at least for the lower parts, extends across the entire southern front. In the 14th century, the town played a leading role in the struggle between the kingdoms of Aragon and Majorca. The Aragonese sovereigns sought to increase its fortifications. Under the reign of Alphonse V the Devil's tower was built and a large part of the fortifications was renewed (1441-1445). In 1668, after the Peace of Aix-la-Chapelle, Vauban wished to strengthen this position. He came several times to Villefranche and had its fortifications reinforced. The four bastions which flank its angles, the gates of the town, the northern front along the Têt as well as the outworks, date from this period. Vauban partly preserved the Spanish towers and curtain walls which he had covered over. He further constructed the fort Libéria. By its position, the stronghold of Villefranche entirely closes the gorge and communication with Spain. The fortifications form an irregular ensemble. Three gates allow access to it. A fourth, that of the Boucheries or of the Payrera, is established for communication with the castle-fort. The walls are defended by six small bastions. The stronghold is surrounded by ditches only on its southern part. Two ranks of musketry defended the fortifications. The first is covered with a roof of slate which allowed only the soldier's head to be seen; the second is established above the first, in a vaulted and crenellated gallery. Vauban's fortifications comprised two exits: the gate of France and that of Spain, situated at two opposite ends. The western front comprised the gate of Spain and the two bastions called the King and the Queen; the eastern front, the gate of France with two bastions, one of which called the Dauphin. The southern part of the rampart was attached to the church with which it was united.