Les Portes Mordelaises. Mordelaises Gates. Rennes. Brittany

After three years of renovation (2018-2022), the Mordelaises Gates - the main entrance to Rennes in the Middle Ages (and one of the few remains of the city’s ramparts) - have regained their luster from 1440, the last time they were rebuilt and enlarged.
(in article journal Ouest-France, published on 9 March 2022)
The Mordelaises gates take their name from the town of Mordelles, an important fief since the 11th century to which this entrance gives. The future dukes had to swear an oath before this entrance, it is thus sometimes called royal gate, ducal gate or episcopal gate. It was used as an entrance for the processions and its drawbridge allowed a double protection against attacks.
These two doors (only one remains today) were once closed by drawbridges with gallows and counterweights, and lined back by a harrow. Above the large door is a stone engraved with a coat of arms: two lions on either side of a spear. It is the flag of the dukes of Monfort who ruled Brittany from 1364 to 1514.
The construction has various defensive structures: a ditch, a drawbridge, a [ the maschicoulis are carved stone structures with square openings or large grooves in the ground, which line a round path with a tower and allow to defend its foot], as well as the remains of a barbican [ fortified protective wall with loopholes ].
After the French Revolution, in 1793, it became a prison under the name of «porte Marat».
On 11 June 1926, it was inscribed as a historic monument.
In 1997, the gate is again equipped with a drawbridge, replica of that of the castle of Montmuran (located between Rennes and Saint-Malo).
Since 2022, the drawbridge is replaced by a sleeper bridge (bridge built on a ditch and which is fixed, unlike the drawbridge, or fixed part of the bridge to which the drawbridge is attached).
(in wikipedia)
@M.Nanette
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