Bourgs et villages fortifiés de l’Isère, éléments pour une première synthèse

Abstract

The article attempts to present the state of knowledge on all types of fortified built-up areas, for the territory of the Isère department. Going back over a not quite finished piece of polymorphic research, which would require reworking, it endeavours to revisit the layouts established and to identify all of the (all too rare) archaeological operations concerning this question. After presentation of the corpus and methods, the article proposes an approach including the following points : -The place and role of the Parish Church in village development. -The relation between castle fortifications and village fortifications, with, in particular, the frequent existence of an unbuilt intermediate space. -Types of layouts : the predominance of long village shapes with a central thoroughfare stands out. The use of urban plans appears to be fairly constant and does not solely concern new towns. -Internal organisation : this point presents data concerning the walls and their defence, the unbuilt areas and the collective facilities.