Point 14. THE ENTRANCE GATE OF THE MEDIAEVAL TOWNSHIP

Point 14. THE ENTRANCE GATE OF THE MEDIAEVAL TOWNSHIP

In the middle of the eastern sector of the walled enclosure there is a second gate into the mediaeval township. This is an opening 1.9 metres wide that leads inside into a corridor at right angles to the wall of up to 10 metres long, flanked by walls between 1.1 and 1.2 metres thick. These strong walls would have defended the entrance, but it should also be considered that these would be the load-bearing walls of the buildings on each side.

The topography and relief of the plateau of Castellot today are not really compatible with an entrance at this spot, as the ground outside almost immediately falls away into a gully some twenty metres deep at this point. However, it must be borne in mind that this whole sector outside the wall has changed its shape a lot since the middle ages, basically due to erosion of the ground. At that time, probably because of the building of the wall itself, there was a path around the outside of the wall. This surrounding path would have made it possible to get to the gate and enter the township.

Thus, the two gates into Castellot can be understood from a defensive point of view, as their location makes it difficult to get in. In this case one must pass round a lengthy stretch of wall to get to the gate. In the case of the postern, as we have seen, it was strongly defended by the south-eastern tower.

Image: Plan of this sector of the site, with the remains of the mediaeval gate marked.

Image 2. Hypothetical reconstruction of the entrance gate into the mediaeval township.