There is probably no entrance to a medieval city more dramatic than the Porte Narbonnaise, or Narbonnaise Gate, the main gate into the walled medieval city on its eastern side. The gate fits every medieval fantasy, with its drawbridge over a dry moat and its pointed stone arches under the gaze of a pair of matched towers. But this isn’t an entrance designed for its aesthetics, much as you might imagine a Cinderella carriage passing over the drawbridge and into the city. Since it sits at the most vulnerable point on the city walls, it was built to be, when the need arose, impossible to enter.
The bridge is flanked by two 80-foot tall towers, among the city’s tallest. These towers can be distinguished from the others by their prow-like projections facing away from the city, to better to repel attacking fire. Each tower was designed to be garrisoned by a substantial contingent of soldiers for the duration of a siege, so each is equipped with a cistern to gather rain water, and each has several floors, each with a huge fireplace. The interiors also bear evidence of the Gothic builders, with ribbed vaulting and, facing into the town, windows with elegant tracery.
The drawbridge could be raised to bar attackers from the city gate. You’ll notice that it’s crooked on the city side to slow a rush of horses or men and to prevent the use of siege weapons. In addition, if you look up at either end of the drawbridge, you’ll find the grooves that once held heavy iron portcullises, or vertical grates, which could be dropped to trap soldiers on the drawbridge. Once the attacking soldiers were on the drawbridge, the defenders could drop stones, molten lead, hot oil, or hot pitch on them through the holes and slits in the wooden platform above (the platform is restored).
Finally, if invaders got so far, the final archway through which they would enter the city is surprisingly small. This opening would only permit a narrow stream of invaders into the city so that a relatively small number of defenders could kill them off as they entered.
So rather than picturing gilded coaches rolling into the city, it’s more true to history to picture a bloody, gruesome battle at this gate. Fortunately, the drawbridge is now permanently down, the portcullises have been removed, the soldiers are gone, and you are free to stroll openly in.