Vestiges of the Gallo-Roman Wall, Grenoble

The Vestiges of the Gallo-Roman wall are the remains of a fortification, constructed in Grenoble, France (formerly called Cularo) at the end of the 3rd century, under the reign of the Emperors Diocletian and Maximian [1]. The Gallo-Roman wall was 1,150 meters in length, and had 39 semi-circular watchtowers which were 7.5 meters in diameter [1]. It had two monumental gates decorated by inscriptions identifying the two Roman emperors [1]. The Gallo-Roman wall played an important role in the protection of the 9-hectare urban surface of the Roman settlement [1]. The wall was built up of small limestone blocks and was covered with plaster [1]. The two doors of the surrounding wall were built on stone blocks reused from previous buildings such as funerary monuments [1]. In the 3rd century, the city was weakened by the invasion of barbarians, so the Gallo-Romans built a surrounding wall, under the rule of the Emperor Diocletian [1].