Remparts

Remparts, or ramparts, are defensive walls that surround and protect a settlement, especially a city or fortress. Historically they were built to deter attackers, protect inhabitants, and regulate access, often incorporating towers, gatehouses, battlements, and sometimes moats or drawbridges. Ramparts can be constructed in stone, brick, or earth, and their design evolved with changes in siege technology, from fixed ramparts with sheer walls to fortified enclosures with artillery bastions.

Construction and design: Typical features include thick masonry, crenellated parapets with merlons and crenels, arrow slits, embanked walkways atop the wall, and towers placed at intervals for surveillance and defense. Gates were protected by gatehouses, portcullises, and sometimes barbicans. In some cities the ramparts form a complete ring around the core, while in others only portions remain.

History and examples: Ramparts date to antiquity and reached a peak in medieval Europe, later adapting to artillery warfare. Many were expanded or rebuilt during the High Middle Ages and early modern period. In the 18th and 19th centuries many were partially dismantled to ease urban growth, but substantial sections have been preserved as heritage monuments. Notable examples include the double ring of walls at Carcassonne in France, the medieval ramparts of Avignon, the fortified coastlines of Saint-Malo, and the historic Walls of Quebec City in Canada. Carcassonne is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Preservation and modern use: Today remparts often serve as cultural heritage sites, tourism attractions, and public promenades; some continue to define city limits or function as barriers in ceremonial events.