Lantern Tower (La Rochelle)

Last updated
Lantern Tower
Native names
French: Tour de la Lanterne
English: Tower of the Four Sergeants
English: Garrot tower
Priest tower
Tour Lanterne aout 2015 La Rochelle Charente Maritime.jpg
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 / 46.15583; -1.15694
Height180 feet (55 m)
Founded1209
Original useProtection of the entrance to the primitive port of La Rochelle
Restored2015
Architectural style(s) Medieval
Governing bodyBuilding managed by the CMN (Center des Monuments Nationaux)
OwnerGovernment
Website la-rochelle.monuments-nationaux.fr

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]

Contents

History

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]

Engraving of the 4 sergeants of La Rochelle before their execution 4sergentsdelarochelle.jpeg
Engraving of the 4 sergeants of La Rochelle before their execution

See also

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References

  1. Base Mérimée : Saint-Nicolas tower , Ministère français de la Culture. (in French)
  2. "Lantern Tower in La Rochelle". viafrance.com. Via France. Retrieved 26 January 2020.
  3. "The Lantern Tower (La Tour de la Lanterne)". poitou-charentes-vendee.com. Poitou Charentes Vendee. Retrieved 26 January 2020.

Commons-logo.svg Media related to Tour de la Lanterne at Wikimedia Commons