The Rocket (district of Arles)

Description

The district of Arles of the Rocket , called formerly, Borough of the Piglet or Old man-Borough corresponds to the south-western part of the medieval city. It is located nowadays between the the Rhone, the Clemenceau boulevard and the street Gambetta.

The name of Bourg of the Porcelet goes back to the 11th century when this district was held in stronghold by these lords arlésiens. The term of Old man-Borough is allotted to him in opposition to the district of the north of Arles created shortly after and called the Borough-Nine . The toponym of the Rocket could as for him make echo either with the ruins of the circus whose substructions are found in the extreme south of this district, or with a plant pushing on the walls.

After having been a district of fishermen and trades related to the river then a zone of reception for the many newcomers, this district of some 2.500 inhabitants, while preserving his identity with its narrow houses and its private mansions, takes today a particularly heterogeneous residential character and forms of village. He also knows a spectacular revival with his restorations and the establishment of many shops and trade.

History

After an initial allotment with the Life century and the fold of the Early middle ages, Arles knows starting from the end of the 10th century one period of rebirth which involves an urban development out of the walls. In first half of the 12th century a true district is made up in south-west of the city, the Old man-Borough . Its seigniory belongs to the Porcelet whose fortress is drawn up in this borough. Soon girds ramparts, the Borough enters in conflict with the City before being integrated with the other districts of the city in a new medieval enclosure into the beginning 13th century. The district shelters primarily sinners and craftsmen related to the trades of the river.

With the Low Middle Ages, the Road , the head office of Arles by of Guesclin, the disorders of the war of succession of the Counts de Provence and the increase of the corsairs Catalans by the Rhone force to reinforce the defense of the district and the city. The tower of the Rocket, called tower of Léonet or Écorchoir is still testimony today.

With the Revolution, the district becomes the seat of the revolutionary party of the Monnaidiers and supports in 1790 the election of the first elected mayor of the city, the aristocrat Jacobin Pierre-Antoine Antonelle. The district is opposed to the other districts, in particular to that of the Hauture, or live the royalists known as the Chiffonistes . This competition, becomes a constant of the communal life to the war of 1914.

Towards 1850, on arrival of the railroad which competes with the river activities, the district dies out little by little, being transformed gradually into zone of reception for the many newcomers of the various waves of immigration. For a few decades, in particular since the creation of the new bridge which rejected the traffic out of the city, the district in full revival has found its place within urban fabric and of the life arlésienne.

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