Couleuvrinier Tower and Ramparts BerguesView of the Couleuvrinier tower and the ramparts of Bergues and the canals of Bergues and flowers in the foreground
©Couleuvrinier Tower and Ramparts of Bergues
Les Remparts Stone witnesses to a fortified past
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Les Remparts

The ramparts bear witness to Flanders’ rich military past. In Bergues, the fortifications designed by Vauban still encircle the town with majesty. Watten, meanwhile, retains the remains of a medieval wall overlooking the valley, offering a unique panorama of the region.

Moulin Vu Du DessusAerial view of the Watten mill and Watten mountain
©Aerial view of the Moulin de Watten and the mountain of Watten|CCHF

The silent guardians of the city A journey along walls steeped in history

Almost all of Bergues’ fortifications have been preserved. It has preserved numerous witnesses to its various construction periods:

  • the North curtain wall and the Guy de Dampierre Tower (1286) date from the time of the Counts of Flanders
  • the Dukes of Burgundy left us, in particular, the Nekerstor, the Porte de Bierne and the curtain wall along the rue Pierre DECROO (1418)
  • The Spanish period saw the emergence of a new type of bastioned, buried fortification. This was the western front between the Cassel gate and the Bierne gate (1585).
  • Finally, Sébastien LE PRESTRE DE VAUBAN completed the ensemble. In particular, he created the crown of Saint-Winoc (1672-1692), a work that was continued by his successors with the crown of Bierne in 1720 and the crown of Hondschoote in 1741.

To get to Bergues, enter through a fortified gateway or, at worst, through a breach in the ramparts… Whichever way you go, you won’t be disappointed!

A walk around the ramparts of BerguesA walk around the ramparts of Bergues
©A walk along the ramparts of Bergues|Virginie WITKOWSKI
Nekerstor Remparts Bergues 2021 Eq 4View of the ramparts of Bergues and the Nekerstor tower with the flag of Flanders
©Nekerstor Tower in the Ramparts of Bergues |QUENTON Emilie
Ramparts of BerguesRamparts of Bergues
©View of the ramparts of Bergues|Marie-Ange OLLIVIER
A walk around the ramparts of BerguesPeople walking along the ramparts of Bergues
©Stroll around the ramparts of Bergues|Virginie WITKOWSKI

      Between stones and legends... ... the walls still speak

      In Bergues, the ramparts tell the story of 500 years of open-air history!

      From the Guy de Dampierre tower to the Vauban bastions, each stone has its own story to tell. Take a stroll along the northern curtain wall or pass beneath the 15th-century Nekerstor.
      The Spanish built buried bastions here, and Vauban perfected them. From 1286 to 1741, the fortifications never ceased to evolve and fascinate.

      The crown of Saint-Winoc plunges you into the heart of military ingenuity. Here, each fortified gateway is a gateway to the past.

      Choose your route… and let Bergues surprise you!

      path along the ramparts of BerguesPath along the top of the ramparts of Bergues under the trees
      ©Stroll along the ramparts |QUENTON Emilie
      Ramparts of BerguesTour des Couleuvriniers and ramparts of Bergues with flag flying from the tower
      ©Couleuvriniers Tower
      Ramparts BerguesPath along the ramparts of Bergues and trees
      ©Path along the ramparts of Bergues|Marc BOUREL
        Frequently asked questions
        • How many gates are there to enter the town of Bergues?

          Bergues still has 5 gates:

          • The Bierne Gate: its layout resembles a small castle flanked by two powerful towers at the front, framing the drawbridge.
          • The Cassel gateway: in classical style, this contrasts with the Bierne and Dunkirk gateways. The top of its pediment is adorned with a sun, the symbol of Louis XIV.
          • The Porte de Dunkerque: Flanked by two large towers, this gateway appears to be a contemporary of its neighbour, the Porte de Bierne. It was once protected by a drawbridge and a set of rear gates.
          • The Porte d’Hondschoote: all that remains of the Porte d’Hondschoote, which resembled the Porte de Cassel, is a gap in the wall. Like all the other gates, it was equipped with a drawbridge.
          • The Porte aux Boules
        • Are there any other points of interest?

          The ramparts also include several towers:

          • The Tour des Couleuvriniers : located near the Porte de Cassel, this tower owes its name to the introduction of the couleuvrine, a thin artillery piece as long as a snake.
          • The Nekestor: both a water gate and a flanking tower, it is the most important tower in the town’s medieval fortifications.
          • Tour Guy de Dampierre (the oldest of the towers on the Bergues ramparts): this is made up of two vaulted rooms in the shape of a cul-de-sac. It is built of red brick, which is its distinctive feature.
          • The Tower of Counterfeit Money
        • Can you visit the ramparts?

          You can visit the Remparts of Bergues with the help of a map available from Terre de Flandre Tourisme in Bergues (in the Belfry) or take one of our guided tours.

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        Label Estaminet logoLabel Estaminet logo with a white lion on an orange background holding cutlery and a beer mug
        ©Label Estaminet logo
        Le Bruegel - BerguesFrontage of the Bruegel estaminet in Bergues with blue door and orange label plaque
        ©Estaminet Flamand Le Bruegel - Bergues
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        It’s the place to be for fans of craft beer. If you’d like to find out about the brewing process, from selecting the ingredients to bottling, and taste 2 of the beers they make, all you have to do is book!

        Westhoek BreweryWesthoek Brewery logo representing a red cow hanging on the building of the former slaughterhouse in Bergues.
        ©Westhoek Brewery and its logo
        Bergues slaughterhouseOld slaughterhouse in Bergues with red flowers in the foreground
        ©Former slaughterhouse in Bergues now home to the Westhoek Brewery
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        Bergues tramway locomotiveBergues tourist train to visit the town "Tramway 99".
        ©Tourist tramway 99 de Bergues
        Tramway in front of the town hall and the Lamartine giantTramway in front of Bergues town hall and the giant Lamartine building
        ©Bergues tourist tramway and the Géant Lamartine
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