| Lantern Tower | |
|---|---|
| Native names | |
| Priest tower | |
|   Tour de la Lanterne | |
|   | |
| Location | La Rochelle, France | 
| Nearest city | La Rochelle | 
| Coordinates | 46°09′21″N01°09′25″W / 46.15583°N 1.15694°W | 
| Height | 180 feet (55 m) | 
| Founded | 1209 | 
| Original use | Protection of the entrance to the primitive port of La Rochelle | 
| Restored | 2015 | 
| Architectural style | Medieval | 
| Governing body | Building managed by the CMN (Center des Monuments Nationaux) | 
| Owner | Government | 
| Website | la-rochelle | 
The Lantern Tower (French : tour de la Lanterne) is one of the three medieval historic towers in La Rochelle, Poitou-Charentes, France, which guarded the port at Aunis. The Lantern tower served as a Lighthouse and a prison throughout its history. It was also known by other names: Garrot tower, Priest tower, and Four Sergeant tower. In 1789 the French government declared it a Monument historique [1]
The original purpose of the tower was to watch ship traffic in the port. It also served as a lighthouse. In the 1500s the tower was used to imprison priests. [2] It was a multi-purpose building: used both as a lighthouse and a prison. The tower was used to watch the Aunis coastline during the middle ages; and it was used to guide ships into port. Throughout its history it was also used to house prisoners: first priests, then sailors, and finally prisoners from the Wars of the Vendée. [3]
 
 
Media related to Tour de la Lanterne at Wikimedia Commons