Mur de la peste facts for kids
The Mur de la peste, also known as the Plague Wall, was a special wall built a long time ago in France. It was constructed in the Vaucluse Mountains to try and stop a terrible sickness called the plague from spreading. This wall was a big effort to protect people during a very dangerous time.
Contents
What Was the Plague Wall?
The Plague Wall was a long barrier made of dry stone. It stretched for about 27 kilometers (that's about 17 miles!). Imagine building a wall that long without any cement! Along the wall, there were special watchtowers. These towers were used by guards who watched over the wall. Their job was to make sure no one crossed the wall and accidentally carried the sickness to new places.
Why Was It Built?
The wall was built because of a very serious health crisis. Between the years 1720 and 1722, a terrible plague epidemic hit the region of Provence in France. The city of Marseille was especially affected. The plague was a highly contagious and deadly disease. People were desperate to stop it from spreading further into the countryside. Building the wall was a drastic measure to create a barrier and protect other towns and villages from the illness.
How Was the Wall Made?
The builders used a method called "dry stone" construction. This means they carefully stacked stones together without using any mortar or cement. It takes a lot of skill to build a strong wall this way! The wall wasn't just a simple line of stones. It included those watchtowers for guards. These towers helped the guards see far and wide, making sure no one tried to sneak past the barrier.
Where Can You See It Today?
Even though it was built hundreds of years ago, parts of the Plague Wall still stand today. You can find sections of it near a town called Murs in the Vaucluse region of France. These remaining parts are a reminder of a challenging time in history. They show how people worked together to protect their communities from a dangerous disease.
