Medieval Bastion of Le Mans Le Mans, France

Medieval Bastion and Cathedral, Le Mans, France — Wall and tower of a late-medieval fortification built to strengthen a weak point in the city walls. The large stone balls were thrown at the city by the English in a 1425 siege. On the left is the north transept of Le Mans Cathedral. Old Town, Le Mans, France. Image credit: Holly Hayes

Description

In the 14th or 15th century, Le Mans built a bastion to strengthen a weak point in their city walls. Unfortunately, this did not save them from a siege by the English in 1425. Some of the large stone balls hurled at the city during the siege are neatly stacked at the base of the wall.

Historical Marker Inscription

Une nouvelle enceinte pour défendre un point faible / Ce bastion semi circulaire, dont subsistent quatre des cinq tours d'origine (Margot, Papegay, Ribandelle et Cavalier) enserrait le donjon de Guillaume le Conquérant (disparu), dit aussi la Tour du Roi. Cette enceinte fut construite aux XIV-XVe siècle pour protéger le point le plus faible du du système défensif de la Cité, surplombée à cet endroit par un plateau propice aux attaquants. Elle ne put empêcher la prise du Mans, en 1425, par l'armée anglaise. De cet assault il reste au pied de cette muraille les gros boulets de pierre lancés contre la ville.

A new enclosure to defend a weak point / This semi-circular bastion, of which four of the five original towers remain (Margot, Papegay, Ribandelle and Cavalier) surrounded the keep of William the Conqueror (disappeared), also known as the King's Tower. This enclosure was built in the 14th-15th centuries to protect the weakest point of the City's defensive system, overlooked at this point by a plateau favorable to attackers. It could not prevent the capture of Le Mans in 1425 by the English army. From this assault there remain at the foot of this wall the large stone balls launched against the city.