Tower sights in France
- Sort by:
- Popular
-
A
Tour St-Jacques
The Flamboyant Gothic, 52m-high St James Tower just north of place du Châtelet is all that remains of the Église St-Jacques la Boucherie, which was built by the powerful butchers guild in 1523 as a starting point for pilgrims setting out for the shrine of St James at Santiago de Compostela in Spain. The church was demolished by the revolutionary Directory in 1797, but the bell tower, recently cleaned and now a sparkling white and sand colour, was spared so that it could be used to drop globules of molten lead in the manufacture of shot.
reviewed
-
B
Clocher Neuf
A visit to the 112m-high Clocher Neuf, which is also known as the Tour Nord (North Tower), is worth the ticket price and steep climb up the spiral stairway. Access is just behind the cathedral bookshop. A 70m-high platform on the flamboyant Gothic spire, built from 1507 to 1513 by Jehan de Beauce after an earlier wooden spire burned down, affords superb views of the three-tiered flying buttresses and the 19th-century copper roof, turned green by verdigris.
reviewed
-
C
Tour Jean Sans Peur
The Gothic, 29m-high Tower of John the Fearless was built by the Duke of Bourgogne as part of a splendid mansion in the early 15th century, so he could take refuge from his enemies at the top. It is one of the very few examples of feudal military architecture extant in Paris. Visitors can ascend the 140 steps of the spiral staircase to the turret on top. A guided tour at 3pm costs €8 (including admission fee).
reviewed
-
D
Tour Magne
The crumbling shell of the 30m-high Tour Magne was raised around 15 BC. Built as a display of imperial power, it’s the largest of a chain of towers that once punctuated the city’s 7km-long Roman ramparts. At the top of its 140 steps, there’s an orientation table to help you interpret the magnificent panorama of Nîmes.
reviewed
-
E
Nouvelle Cathédrale de la Major
Cupolas, towers and turrets top the Romano-Byzantine Nouvelle Cathédrale de la Major. Built between 1852 and 1893, the enormous 140m-long, 60m-high structure dwarfs the remains of the neighbouring 11th-century cathedral, Vieille Major.
reviewed
-
F
Tour Philippe le Bon
Located just off the Cour d’Honneur, the 46m-high, mid-15th-century Tour Philippe le Bon affords fantastic views over the city. On a clear day you can see all the way to Mont Blanc.
reviewed
-
G
Tour Jeanne d'Arc
The Tour Jeanne d'Arc is the sole survivor of eight towers that once ringed a huge 13th-century chateau built by Philippe Auge. Joan of Arc was imprisoned here before her execution.
reviewed
-
H
Tour de Guet
The 13th-century Tour de Guet, square at the base but octagonal on top, is a rare remnant of pre-20th-century Calais - the rest of the town was virtually demolished during WWII.
reviewed
-
I
Lanterne des Morts
The rocket-shaped Lanterne des Morts was built to honour a visit by St Bernard, one of the founders of the Cistercian order, in 1147.
reviewed
-
J
Genoese Tower
Porto’s main sights are all dotted around the harbour. You can climb the russet-coloured rocks up to the Genoese tower.
reviewed
Advertisement
-
K
Église St-Pierre du Queyroix
The moody Église St-Pierre du Queyroix is notable for its characteristic Limousin belfry and stained glass.
reviewed
-
L
Tour Métallique
The Tour Métallique is an Eiffel Tower-like structure built atop Fourvière in 1893 and used as a TV transmitter.
reviewed
-
M
Tour de l'Observatoire
A city panorama unfolds from the Tour de l'Observatoire. The tower can be scaled with or without a paid tour.
reviewed
