City Wall - Porte de l'Oulle (Oulle Gate), Avignon

The City Wall and Oulle Gate (Porte de l'Oulle) in Avignon form part of the historic defensive structures that encapsulate the city, known as The Ramparts of Avignon. These stone walls, originating from the 14th century during the Avignon papacy, have witnessed multiple reconstructions and repairs over centuries, reflecting the city's tumultuous past.

Initially, Avignon was protected by a double set of defensive walls completed in the early 13th century. However, during the Albigensian Crusade, Avignon sided with Raymond VII, Count of Toulouse, leading to a siege by Louis VIII of France in 1226. Following Avignon's surrender, its early walls were dismantled, and the moats were filled. A reconstruction of the defenses began around 1231, but these early walls no longer exist; their route, however, is preserved in Avignon's current street layout.

When Pope Clement V moved to Avignon in 1309, the town expanded and needed more fortifications. In the mid-14th century, due to threats from the Hundred Years' War, Pope Innocent VI began building new city walls to enclose the larger town. Completed in nearly 20 years, the walls stretch 4.3 kilometers (2.7 miles) and cover 150 hectares (370 acres). Initially, Avignon had twelve gates, but changes between 1481 and 1487 reduced this to seven. Today, the walls have about 25 access points, including 15 for vehicles and 11 for pedestrians.

The Oulle Gate, originally named Porte Sainte-Jacques and later known as Porte du Limas, was walled up during the Wars of Religion and reopened in 1663. It was rebuilt by Jean-Baptiste Péru in 1785–1786, about 20 meters north of its initial position, before being demolished in 1900. The name "Oulle" (or "Oulo") refers to a "cooking pot" in the Provençal dialect, reminiscent of the pots once sold in a nearby market, tying a piece of local heritage to the historic gate.