Enceinte et fortifications de Chartres, Medieval fortifications in Chartres, France
The Enceinte de Chartres is a fortified wall system made of stone walls and earthen ramparts encircling the city. The remains are visible at various points around the old town, particularly where original structures have survived.
The fortifications began in Gallo-Roman times and were strengthened repeatedly during the Middle Ages. By the 14th century, during the Hundred Years War, they had been rebuilt with stronger stone walls to defend the city.
The walls shaped how the medieval city was organized around its cathedral. Walking along them today reveals how defence and faith were intertwined in everyday urban life.
Different sections are visible from various points around the old town, with some particularly clear when walking the perimeter. A walking route works best to explore them, since the fortifications run through different levels of the city.
The fortifications follow a circular pattern centered on the cathedral, a design that still shapes how the city is laid out today. This concentric plan was deliberately created as a defensive strategy and remains visible in how streets and spaces align.
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