Restes de fortifications
FortressHidden Treasure
Restes de fortifications, located in Selles-sur-Cher (Loir-et-Cher), is a medieval landmark built in the Middle Ages. The monument is currently closed to visitors.
Key facts
- Type
- Fort
- Period
- Medieval (11th-15th century)
- Location
- Selles-sur-Cher, Loir-et-Cher, Centre-Val de Loire
- Visit
- Closed to visitors
- GPS
- 47.2768, 1.5535
- Mérimée Reference
- PA00098599
A striking vestige of the medieval defence of Selles-sur-Cher, the Porte aux Renards was a 14th-century square tower, formidable for its narrowness and loopholes facing the Cher.
© Wikimedia Commons / Wikipedia
History
In the heart of the Cher Valley, the town of Selles-sur-Cher has for centuries preserved the memory of its ancient medieval fortifications, of which the Porte aux Renards is one of the most striking testimonies. This square tower, built in the 14th century, embodied the military intelligence of the time: designed to be defended by as few men as possible thanks to its remarkable narrowness, it turned every attacker into a vulnerable target. The Porte aux Renards was unique because of its strategic position facing the Cher. Its river frontage, pierced by three carefully positioned loopholes, allowed a few archers to control the approaches from the water. The absence of a drawbridge, compensated for by a robust portcullis and deliberately difficult access, made it a virtually impregnable position for anyone unfamiliar with its defensive subtleties. The rubble stonework, typical of 14th-century military buildings in the Loire, gave the whole structure an austere, functional appearance. The top of the tower had been levelled over the centuries, probably during urban redevelopment, and had lost its high defensive part, but the body of the tower retained its bastion-like character intact. Now gone - destroyed in January 1947 - the Porte aux Renards exists only in archives and old photographs. Yet it is a reminder of just how important Selles-sur-Cher was as a fortified town in the Lower Berry region in the Middle Ages, at the crossroads of the trade and military routes linking the major towns of the Loire.
Architecture
The Porte aux Renards belonged to the category of square tower-gates typical of French urban fortifications in the late Middle Ages. Unlike the round towers that became commonplace from the 13th century onwards to better deflect projectiles, this tower had a quadrangular plan, which was cheaper to build and perfectly suited to the narrow constraints of a city gate set in a dense urban fabric. The whole structure was built of rubble stone masonry, local limestone roughly cut and bonded with lime mortar, a ubiquitous material in medieval Loir-et-Cher. This technique gave the building a certain robustness while remaining accessible to local craftsmen. The facade on the Cher side was pierced by three loopholes with a pronounced inner splay, allowing the defenders to aim sideways while remaining protected. Access was controlled by a portcullis sliding in grooves cut into the masonry, a highly effective device in the event of an alarm. The most remarkable feature of the Fox Gate was its deliberate narrowness: the passageway was designed to slow down and channel any attackers, forcing them to move forward in line and eliminating any advantage of numbers. The upper part of the tower, levelled at an undetermined date, probably had a crenellated sentry walk or a parapet to allow surveillance and overhead firing.
Related Figures
Seigneurs de Selles-sur-Cher (constructeurs présumés de l'enceinte médiévale, XIVe siècle)Charles VII (roi de France dont le règne coïncide avec le renforcement des défenses du Bas-Berry)Gardes et arbalétriers communaux (défenseurs attitrés de la porte au Moyen Âge)Autorités municipales de 1947 (responsables de la démolition de la tour)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Restes de fortifications located?
Restes de fortifications is located in Selles-sur-Cher, Loir-et-Cher department, Centre-Val de Loire region, France.
When was Restes de fortifications built?
Restes de fortifications dates back to a period built in the Middle Ages (11th-15th century).
Is Restes de fortifications open to visitors?
Restes de fortifications is currently closed to visitors.