Enceinte (from Latin incinctus: girdled, surrounded), is a French term used technically in fortification for the inner ring of fortifications surrounding a town or a concentric castle.[1]
Strictly, the term was applied to the continuous line of bastions and curtain walls forming the body of the place, this last expression being often used as synonymous with enceinte. However, the outworks or defensive wall close to the enceinte were not considered as forming part of it. In early 20th-century fortification, the enceinte was usually simply the innermost continuous line of fortifications.[1]
In architecture, generally, an enceinte is the close or precinct of a cathedral, abbey, castle, etc.[1]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Anonymous 1911, p. 368.
- Attribution
- This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. "Enceinte" Encyclopædia Britannica 9 Cambridge University Press p. 368 http://www.archive.org/stream/encyclopaediabrit09chisrich#page/368/mode/1up
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The original article can be found at Enceinte and the edit history here.