Doubtless, you have all noticed this remarkable wayside cross called Calvaire. It stands as a silent witness to centuries of history in Lille. But its story is intertwined with a much grander narrative. That narrative involves kings, sieges, and a brilliant military engineer.
The story of Calvaire begins indirectly with Louis XIV’s conquest of Lille in 1667. Before Louis XIV, Lille belonged to the Spanish Netherlands. After a ten-day siege, Louis XIV took control. He decided to fortify his new possession.
Louis XIV commissioned Vauban to construct a mighty citadel. Vauban was a military engineer. The king played him off against the Knight of Clerville, a competing engineer. Vauban won. The construction began in 1667 and finished around 1670. This Citadel of Lille became known as the Queen of Citadels.
To properly defend the city, Vauban modernized and reconstructed the urban wall from 1672. These ramparts connected to the Citadel. The engineer transformed the bastion Saint-Sauveur. It became an inner fortified structure facing the town.
Calvaire, Picquerie, and Molinel: these were the names of three western bastions constructed between 1603 and 1605. They represent an earlier phase of fortification. These bastions were insufficient to stop Louis XIV.
The Citadel included barracks, officers’ quarters, an arsenal, and even a chapel. A new district was constructed by Vauban from 1670 to expand Lille. This became Vieux-Lille.
The urban wall eventually included eighteen bastions, four hornworks, and seven gates. The Porte Royale and the Porte de Paris were particularly noteworthy. Simon Vollant designed the Porte Royale. It featured a statue of Glory with two Fames plus statues of Hercules and March.
Around 1860 to 1870, the urban wall was demolished and reconstructed. The goal was to expand the town. They also wanted to adapt it to the progressive forms of artillery.
Today, the Citadel is remarkably well-preserved. It is still occupied by the army. You can visit the interior of the Citadel with reservations via the tourist office. The outside area is a park.
Calvaire stands as a reminder of Lille’s complex past. It is a testament to the strategic importance of this city. It also represents the ambition of Louis XIV. The brilliance of Vauban forever shaped Lille. So, take a moment to appreciate this wayside cross. Consider the layers of history beneath your feet.