Since its creation, the Château du Barroux has been a seigneurial seat, passing through noble families until the 18th century. Originally part of the Principality of Orange and then the Toulouse domain, it became a fief in 1274 under the Comtat.
The castle, initially a fortified keep, was transformed in 1536 by the Rovigliasc family into a Renaissance residence with decorative windows. During the Wars of Religion, it was captured and retaken in 1563 but sustained little damage. Expanded in the 1680s with Vauban-inspired fortifications, it included artillery and defensive features, maintaining its military readiness.
In 1791, it was damaged by revolutionary forces and fell to ruin, serving as a quarry until 1929 when André Vayson de Pradenne began restoration. WWII saw it occupied by German forces, and it was burned down in 1944. Restoration efforts resumed in the 1960s, and the site, now open to the public, is preserved by the Vayson de Pradenne family and the 'Friends of Château du Barroux' association. Recognized as a historical monument in 1963, the castle hosts cultural events today.
The Walls of Constantinople are a series of defensive stone walls that have surrounded and protected the city of Constantinople (today Istanbul) since its founding as the new capital of the Roman Empire by Constantine the Great. With numerous additions and modifications during their history, they were the last great fortification system of antiquity, and one of the most complex and elaborate systems ever built. They were also the largest and strongest fortification in both the ancient and medieval world.
Initially built by Constantine the Great, the walls surrounded the new city on all sides, protecting it against attack from both sea and land. As the city grew, the famous double line of the Theodosian Walls was built in the 5th century. Although the other sections of the walls were less elaborate, they were, when well-manned, almost impregnable for any medieval besieger.