The initial idea for blocking the channel leading to the harbour of La Rochelle in order to stop all supplies to the city came from the Italian engineer Pompeo Targone, but his structure was broken by the winter weather. The endeavour was finally taken up by the Royal architect Clément Métezeau (also Metzeau).[1]
The wall was built on top of a foundation made of sunken hulks, filled with rubble. The construction involved 4,000 workmen, and the seawall was 1,400 metres long. French artillery installed on the seawall and used against English ships that tried to supply the city.
^Alexandre Gady 2008, p. 308 "Chevreuse (hôtel de), rue Saint-Thomas-du-Louvre" and p. 314 "Plessis-Guénégaud (hôtel du)", in Les Hôtels particuliers de Paris du Moyen Âge à la Belle Époque. Paris: Parigramme. ISBN9782840962137.