Mur de la peste, Protective stone wall in Vaucluse Mountains, France
The Mur de la Peste is a stone wall extending roughly 27 kilometers through the mountainous landscape of Vaucluse with watchtowers spaced along its course. The structure joins stone blocks without mortar and follows the natural terrain of the region.
The wall was built between 1720 and 1722 to stop plague spread from Marseille into the papal territory of Comtat Venaissin. This construction project was a direct response to the disease threat facing the region.
The wall shows the traditional dry stone building methods used by local people in Provence at that time. This construction style still shapes how the landscape looks today and reflects the practical skills of regional craftspeople.
You can explore well-preserved sections of the wall near Cabrières d'Avignon on marked hiking trails. The best time to visit is during cooler months when the hilly terrain is easier to manage.
Around 500 workers completed this massive structure in just five months while soldiers guarded its perimeter. The rapid pace of this construction makes it a noteworthy logistical feat of the period.
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