ENCEINTES

Muret was founded in the late 7th century around the church of Saint-Sernin, at the confluence of the Louge and Garonne rivers. This was the site of a walled Gallo-Roman villa surrounded by walls, called ?murellum? Gradually, a citadel was built. To protect itself from successive ambitions and attacks, the town became a veritable stronghold. The first city wall was built in the 8th century to defend against the Normans. This enclosure was enlarged to protect against the arrival of the Toulousans. With the arrival of Simon de Montfort in the 13th century, the town was transformed into an impressive fortress into an impressive fortress. Crenellated walls were built, and a moat lined with lices was dug. All around the town, crenellated walls bristling with three watchtowers were built. A drawbridge was built to monitor entrances and exits. By the 18th century, the fortifications were no longer needed, and a number of modifications were made. Along the brick walls on the banks of the Garonne, the Marché de Muret was built. The moat was filled in to become today's Allées Niel. The guard towers and the castelet with the drawbridge were destroyed. The materials could be reused for new constructions or renovations.