Saint-Martial Bastion

Check out the wall to your left! It’s part of the Saint-Martial bastion, built in the 16th century. The town once had 5, but only three have stood the test of time. The others were demolished together with the city walls back in the 18th century, in an effort to open up the city. At the time, the bastions stood at the 4 corners of the fortifications, protecting the city from attackers at every possible angle. And let me tell you that with the advancement of artillery in the 16th century, they became a necessity; they’d put cannons on top to fire back at attackers. Believe it or not, not so long ago, this very bastion was bordered by houses, which were demolished for better views. Today, it’s part of the walls built around the Collège du Bastion, a public middle school, so all you can see now is this imposing stone wall, which is over 5 centuries old!