The siege warfare machines

The trebuchet, couillard and bricole catapults are in working order and fire real projectiles to the fascination of spectators.

             

The trebuchet at Château des Baux is 16 metres high. As powerful as it was accurate, with a range of 200 metres, it could fire a 50 to 100 kilogram load of boulders using its lever system. Weighing 7 tonnes, 60 soldiers were required to install and man it. The trebuchet at Château des Baux-de-Provence is a unique model: it is equipped with a wheel system in contrast to more basic trebuchets with a winch system.

             

The couillard was used between the 14th and 16th centuries. This counterweight machine consisted of two articulated hutches, which made it easier to operate the engine by dividing the loads to be handled into two. The counterweights of the first couillards were large leather sacks filled with earth. Later, these were replaced by hutches made of wood and riveted iron filled with metal. This machine's performance enabled it to compete against powder artillery for a long time due to its rate of fire and the small number of men needed to operate it (4 to 8 men). This engine was therefore able to throw boulders from 35 m to 180 m at a rate of fire of 10 times an hour.

Dating from the 12th century, the bricole is a medieval piece of artillery. Consisting of a lever with a bag containing projectiles at the end, it was operated by pulling on the other end of the lever, with traction facilitated by adding a counterweight. This formidable engine could therefore fire a 10 to 30 kg rock every minute.

               

The battering ram was used to break down the heavy gates of besieged fortresses. The long beam had a rocking motion, was armed with an iron head and was sheltered from projectiles by a solid framework structure.

              

From April to September, the catapults are fired every day at 10.30 a.m., 12 noon, 2 p.m., 4 p.m. and 6 p.m.