The visit ended, we retrace our steps to the Boulevard d'Aligre and follow it to the right, crossing the Durteint. The city wall begins at this point.
The Ramparts
(historical monument)
ENTRANCE TO THE TURRET, THE TROU-AU-CHAT
The line of the ramparts climbs upwards. At the summit is a doorway pierced in a part of the wall which juts off from the principal line of ramparts. It is the "Porte Faneron" and formed part of the original wall which surrounded the upper town.
Under the Counts of Champagne the ramparts were considerably developed, and in the thirteenth century were made to include the lower town. The opening in the wall on the right of the above view leads to a thirteenth century tower. The exit is by the "Trou-au-chat," so called because it was formed during a siege by a "cat" (a form of catapult for throwing heavy stones). The photograph below shows the picturesque view obtained from the interior of the turret.
Take the climbing path amidst the trees towards the top of the hill. It is a pretty walk, and affords a good opportunity to judge of the solidity of the walls, which are dotted here and there with towers. The path ends at the Porte de Jouy, where we shall find the car which we left in the lower town, and which has followed the directions on p. [132].
