Tour des Valois, Medieval tower in Sainte-Colombe, France
The Valois Tower is a stone defensive structure with a square base and crenellations at the four upper corners of the building. The structure consists of thick walls rising about 100 feet (30 meters) high that maintain a robust military form.
King Philip VI ordered the tower built in 1336 at the Rhône bridge entrance to secure control over this location against the archbishop of Vienne's claims. This structure was part of a larger effort to strengthen royal authority over a contested region.
The tower embodies the presence of royal authority in this region and shows how control over important river crossings was organized. Visitors can still see traces of this political power display in the structure today.
The structure sits on Quai d'Herbouville along the river and is normally only open to visitors during special events or occasions. It is worth checking in advance when openings are scheduled, as regular access is limited.
The interior once contained two separate staircases that led to different levels and an observation platform, but this construction no longer exists. The lost interior arrangement reveals how carefully the tower's layout was originally designed for its defensive purpose.
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