Tour Montparnasse, Paris, France. © Pierre Lauret
Erected to defend themselves, observe or simply for show, these tours now offer a breathtaking view. To take advantage, just go up there. Cheer up!
1 Gatteville Lighthouse (Manche)
Is it because he has to remain operational throughout the year that the flagship Gatteville has 52 windows, and is accessed at the top by climbing 365 steps? A colossus formed of 11,000 granite blocks, a historical monument since 2009, as spectacular as the coast of which it protects sailors every night with its xenon lamp 1600 watts bringing to more than 50 km. The troubled waters and the rugged sides of the eastern tip of the Cotentin unforgiving. It was necessary to prevent the ships, there build this lighthouse, which was the tallest building in France from 1829 until the construction of the Eiffel Tower.
Gatteville lighthouse is open to visitors every day except between mid-November and mid-December and January, from 10am to 12pm and from 14h to 18h (17h in March and October, 16h February, November and December). www.pharedegatteville.com
2 Keep the Château de Langeais (Indre-et-Loire)
In the garden of the castle of Langeais stand the ruins of the oldest yet majestic tower of France . Built around the year one thousand, the square tower was one of the first built of stone. He was part of the defense system established by the Count of Anjou, Fulk Nerra (the Black Hawk), at war against the Count of Blois, Eudes I er, for the conquest of Touraine. The reconstruction of a medieval scaffolding for understanding how the builders were working at the time. Forty years later, Fulk Nerra reasserted its authority by building the dungeon of Loches.
Built in 1492, the castle of Langeais is one of the royal residences that has best preserved its medieval fortress. It has been enriched furniture in perfect harmony ( www.chateau de langeais.com ).
The keep of the castle of Langeais © Alyse & Remi
3 Tour Montparnasse (Paris)
First skyscraper in Paris , the Montparnasse Tower, 210 m high, was inaugurated in 1973 Built as part of the redevelopment district of Montparnasse train station, its 59 floors, topped by a roof terrace, rely of 56 concrete pillars, some of which go down to 70 m deep. Take the 25 elevators leading directly to the 56th floor, and you will be in 38 seconds just to the floor where panoramic interactive kiosks and multimedia presentation invite you to discover Paris . A few more steps to climb: Here the terrace and 360 °, with visibility on a clear day, extends up to 40 km. Breathtaking!
The opening of the terrace until 23h (10:30 p.m. or seasonal) allows you to contemplate Paris at night ( www.tourmontparnasse56.com ).
4 Tour du Roy René, Marseille (Bouches-du-Rhône)
Penetrated by the sea in the Old Port is always the end of a dream trip. Before one discovers hundreds of masts erected skyward, the silhouette of Fort St. John, initiated by the round tower Lantern and punctuated by the square tower of René Roy, stands as a lookout. Built after the sacking of the city in 1423 at the initiative of René of Anjou, then Earl of Provence and Forcalquier, the tower of King René's mission was to protect the switches from invaders port.
The future Museum of Civilization Mediterranean Europe ( www.mucem.org ) Will soon be connected to the Fort St. John by a footbridge.
5 Saint-Jacques Tower (Paris)
Standing majestically in the heart of solo Paris , this tower high Gothic style, 52 meters was the steeple of the old church of Saint-Jacques-de-la-Boucherie ( XV century). Completed in 1525, the tower was equipped with twelve bells. During the Revolution, the church was destroyed but the tower was preserved. In XIX century Haussmann did restructure the tower was added 19 statues, bays were closed by glass windows and statues of St. Jacques and symbols of the evangelists crowning its summit you refit. The recent restoration of this building allowed to scrutinize its gargoyles and chimeras, and discover a beautiful mermaid, who witnessed the imagination of sculptors XVI century.
In 1998, Saint-Jacques tower was included in the UNESCO heritage as a starting point in the Middle Ages, pilgrims to Saint Jacques de Compostela; a statement in stone at the monument, but controversial.
In 1998, Saint-Jacques tower was included in the UNESCO heritage as a starting point in the Middle Ages, pilgrims to Saint Jacques de Compostela; a statement in stone at the monument, but controversial.
6 Lighthouse Cordovan (Gironde)
In the open sea, 7 km from the coast, the dome of Cordovan, the "flagship of Kings" and the "King of Lights" offers the best vantage point of the mouth of the Gironde. This white stone tower of Saintonge, 68 m high, built under Louis XIV, resisted tides, storms and erosion of the rocky plateau that carries it. The interior is sublime: "King's apartment" decorated with pilasters and marble floor, lit by stained glass chapel ... Although automated since 2006, a lodge keeper in this flagship listed historical monuments. From the Pointe de Grave, a circuit featuring 4:00 (reservations required) allows to visit the building and to climb the 311 steps.
Weddings and baptisms were celebrated in the chapel of the lighthouse, but permission is exceptional.
7 Round tower of the castle of Foix (Ariege)
Built in XV century round tower is 32 m and is the centerpiece of the medieval castle of Foix room. Designed to reinforce the authority of the Counts of Foix, she served dungeon, then barracks and finally prison. In this conversion, the tower guard stigma still visible: inscriptions in stone by inmates. From the top, there is a panoramic view of the Pyrenees and the old town of Foix. The tour of the castle and its two towers traces the many lives of this fortress built in the year one thousand.
Historical monument, the site houses the County Museum of Ariege. Every August 31, a fireworks engulfed the castle.
Round tower of the castle of Foix, Ariege, France. © plsg77
8 Genoese towers of Cap Corse (Corsica)
Sixty round towers, rarely square, dot the coastline of Cape Corse . In fifteen meters in height, they scan the horizon from the time when Corsica was still a Genoese colony. Then they were protecting the island against the Barbary countless raids. Navy Scalo, hamlets Pino, Erbalunga or the customs path that passes near the Santa Maria tower can admire beautiful Genoese towers, mostly dating from XVI century.
Genoese towers of Cap Corse, Corsica, France. © REMIBRIDOT
9 Tour Fenestrelle, Uzes (Gard)
Like a lighthouse standing in the middle of the garrigue, the announcement Fenestrelle turn off the old episcopal and consular Uzès city. Top 46 m, bell Lombard style, which dates in part from XII century, serves steeple at St. Théodorit cathedral that was it, rebuilt in the middle of XVII century. Its six-storey twin windows and conical roof of glazed tiles give it an air tower of Pisa, and the tower Fenestrelle never gave any sign of inclination.
You can take a guided tour of the tower information to the tourist office of Uzes ( www.uzes-tourisme.com ).
Tour Fenestrelle, Uzes, Gard, France. © sebastien.barre
10 Belfry Komen (North)
You can come to Komen, Franco-Belgian town 15 km from Lille, to stock up on beer and tobacco. But it would be a shame not to make a stop at the belfry of the town hall, one of the most amazing northern classified in 2005 as World Heritage by UNESCO. If the bulb is reminiscent of those steeples Orthodox, remember that the belfries North symbolized the power and autonomy of municipalities face the dungeons of military clergy and churches.
To go to Komen from Lille, a bus line (Liane 1) from the center every 20 minutes during peak hours. Journey time: 30 minutes. Timetables www.transpole.fr
Belfry Comines, Nord, France. © BPMM
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