Caen in Calvados, Normandy, France — Western Europe
La barbacane et la porte des Champs
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The Barbican and Castle Gate
Photographed by James Hulse, June 2, 2025
1. La barbacane et la porte des Champs / The Barbican and Castle Gate Marker
La barbacane et la porte des Champs
Après 1204, la construction de l'enceinte du Donjon oblige à ouvrir une nouvelle porte. La Porte de Secours donne sur un faubourg peu construit et situé en dehors des murailles de la ville. On lui donne donc le nom de Porte des Champs. On accède à la porte après avoir franchi une barbacane construite dans les années 1430-1440. Il faut ensuite passer le grand fossé sur une passerelle qui débouche sur le passage de la porte protégé par un pont-levis et une herse.
L'entrée monumentale est puissamment défendue par deux tours crénelées réunies par un corps de logis. Les ouvertures de tir couvrent le passage de chaque côté. Au-dessus, la galerie à mâchicoulis permet de lancer des projectiles. Cet aménagement date de l'occupation anglaise, vers 1440-1445. Le cartouche d'un blason sur la façade de la porte était sans doute celui du roi ou du gouverneur du château.
Légendes
(Photo #1) Les réfugiés de Lorraine au château de Caen en 1918 - Croix Rouge, Lib. of Congress, USA
(Photo #2) La porte et sa caponière - Collection
this page online
(Photo #3) Relevé de la porte des Champs, par Sallez, 1905 - Photo MPP, Charenton-le-Pont
The Barbican and Castle Gate
After 1204, King of France Philip Augustus had the castle opened up to the east, onto the countryside outside the town walls. This position explains the name Fields Gate, as opposed to Saint-Pierre Gate, to the south, opening inside the city walls.
Built c. 1440-1445, the barbican protects the gateway, standing before the large moat crossed by a bridge, followed by a drawbridge and a portcullis. This monumental entrance is strongly defended by two crenellated towers and a machicolated main façade just above the passage. The escutcheon of a coat of arms on the facade of the gate remains an enigma, but underlines the prestige of this entrance to the castle.
Captions
(Photo #1) Refugees from Lorraine at Caen Castle in 1918 - Red Cross, Lib. of Congress, USA
(Photo #2) The door and its caponier - A. Léger Collection
(Photo #3) Survey of the Porte des Champs, by Sallez, 1905 - Photo MPP, Charenton-le-Pont
Barbakane Dung Burgtor
Nach 1204 ließ der französische König Philipp August das Schloss im Osten öffnen, zum Land außerhalb der Stadtmauern hin. Dies
Photographed by James Hulse, June 2, 2025
2. La barbacane et la porte des Champs / The Barbican and Castle Gate Marker
Zwischen 1440-1445, erfolgten die Bauschritte der Barbakane, die noch vor dem großen Graben das Tor schützt. Über den Graben führen ein Steg und dann eine Zugbrücke mit Fallgitter. Der monumentale Eingang wird von zwei zinnenbewehrten Türmen und einem Corps de Logis mit Maschikulis über dem Durchgang kraftvoll verteidigt (um 1440). Die Kartusche eines Wappens auf der Fassade des Tors ist noch heute rätselhaft, weist aber auf das Prestige dieses Eingangstors des Châteaus hin.
Bildunterschriften
(Foto #1) Flüchtlinge aus Lothringen im Schloss Caen im Jahr 1918 - Rotes Kreuz, Lib. of Congress, USA
(Foto #2) Die Tür und ihre Kaponniere – Sammlung A. Léger
(Foto #3) Vermessung der Porte des Champs, von Sallez, 1905 – Foto MPP, Charenton-le-Pont
Erected by Château de Caen, Mussee de Normandie.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Forts and Castles. A significant historical year for this entry is 1204.
Location. 49° 11.236′ N, 0° 21.687′ W. Marker is in Caen, Normandie (Normandy), in Calvados. It is at the intersection of Av. de la Libération and Rue Montoir Poissonnerie
Photographed by James Hulse, June 2, 2025
3. The Castle Gate with draw bridge
Regionally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, Europe, the European Union, Atlantic Europe, the Schengen Area, Western Europe, a coastal Mediterranean country, and the Western World. Historically, it finds itself in what was once a French colony and also the Roman Empire.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: La porte des Champs / The Castle Gate (within shouting distance of this marker); Le Donjon / From the Anglo-Norman keep to the French chatelet (about 150 meters away, measured in a direct line); Province of Ontario Memorial (about 180 meters away); L'église Saint-Georges / Saint George's Church (about 180 meters away); Le Donjon et ses fossés / The Donjon and its moat (about 180 meters away); La salle de l'Échiquier / The Dukes of Normandy's Great Hall (about 180 meters away); Le Vieux Palais / The Old Palace (about 210 meters away); Les tours du côté des champs / The Field-side Tower (about 240 meters away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Caen.
Also see . . .
1. The Barbican and Field Gate. Château Caen (Submitted on June 26, 2025, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.)
2. The Field Gate. (Submitted on June 27, 2025, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.)
Photographed by James Hulse, June 2, 2025
4. The Barbican (left side), Castle Gate (right side) and the draw bridge (middle)
Photographed by James Hulse, June 2, 2025
5. Closeup of the draw bridge
Photographed by James Hulse, June 2, 2025
6. The exterior wall of the castle with the moat
Credits. This page was last revised on June 27, 2025. It was originally submitted on June 26, 2025, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 135 times since then and 18 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on June 27, 2025, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.
