MAJOU GATE

About

The Porte de Majou is one of the old fortified entrances to the medieval town of Saint-Bertrand-de-Comminges. It was part of the ramparts that protected the upper town in the Middle Ages.

The Porte de Majou is one of the main entrances to the medieval town of Saint-Bertrand-de-Comminges.

Rebuilt elements bear Roman mortuary inscriptions, and the archway is dominated by a stone bearing the coat of arms of Cardinal Pierre de Foix. The site witnessed Gondowald's escape in 585. Within its walls is a prison where Saint Benoît-Joseph Labre (1748-1783) was confined. The remains of a Roman tower remain, and the hospital was established nearby.

It is part of the ancient ramparts that protected the upper town, the religious and historic heart of the village.

This fortified gateway used to control access to the town. Like the other openings in the ramparts, it bears witness to the essential defensive role played by Saint-Bertrand-de-Comminges in the Middle Ages.

Today, the Majou gate marks the entrance to the old village. Passing through it, you'll discover narrow streets, old houses and a remarkable heritage dominated by the cathedral.

A vestige of the past, it is an emblematic element of the history and medieval architecture of the site, which is listed as one of the most beautiful villages in France.