ramparts of Saint-Valery-sur-Somme

En un regard

Le château en bref

The ramparts of Saint-Valery-sur-Somme enclosed the Ville-Haute, the oldest quarter of the town, built on the heights overlooking the bay. According to the Inventaire du patrimoine des Hauts-de-France, the stone enceinte dates from the 14th century and was probably built at the initiative of the English, who held the town from 1360 to 1369. It comprised thirteen towers linked by curtain walls, and a castle occupied the south-eastern corner. The north front, the most exposed, was the best defended, with the Harold and Gonzagues towers (the former Échevinage tower, demolished in 1784) and high walls. The enceinte survives only partially, mainly on the bay side; the medieval street layout still follows its limits. Two gates, the Guillaume gate to the west and the de Nevers gate to the east, were listed in 1907.