Dam of Richelieu
The dam of Richelieu is a Digue which was built with La Rochelle at the time of the seat carried out between 1627 and 1628 by the cardinal of Richelieu, to prevent the supply of the city by the sea.
The idea was proposed by it to the cardinal of Richelieu by Clément Métezeau, architect of the king, and Jean Thiriot, Parisian contractor of masonry, on November 28th, 1627. The principle being of closing the Channel port of the La Rochelle, which makes approximately 1 600 Meter S, by a perpendicular dam of 1 400 meters, open in its medium, and defended by many ships.
Richelieu gives its agreement for the project, and 4 000 workmen grassement remunerated, of which many soldiers, are put immediately at work. Being pressed on cast and beforehand built Ship S, the dam made 1 500 meters length. Broad at the base (8 Measuring apparatus S) and with 8 meters at its top (4 measuring apparatuses), 20 meters it high, and 16 meters is armed with gun S pointed towards the broad one, in order to prevent the supply by sea.
The work proves particularly effective, and constrained on several occasions, under the exchange of gunfire nourished, the ships English come in reinforcement, to turn back. By preventing the English supply and reinforcements to reach the city, the work played a considerable part in its fall. October 28th, 1628, the famished city capitulates in an unconditional way. On the 28 000 inhabitants whom the city counted before the seat, there remain only 5 500 survivors.
Once the raised seat, the dam is destroyed, and today, the Tour Richelieu, at the entry of the channel of access to the Marina of Tiny the and the Old port, marks the site of the old northern end of the famous dam of Richelieu whose remainders are visible with Low tide.
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