Saverne semaphore tower, Semaphore tower in Haegen, France.
The Saverne semaphore tower stands at 434 meters above sea level with mechanical arms designed to transmit signals across long distances through specific positions.
Constructed in the late 18th century as part of Claude Chappe's optical telegraph network, this tower facilitated rapid communication between Paris and Strasbourg until 1852.
The tower represents a critical period in French communication history when visual signals could transmit messages across 150 miles within two minutes using a network of stations.
Visitors can access the tower site throughout the year to examine the mechanical signal system and learn about early long-distance communication methods.
The restored mechanism demonstrates how operators used wooden arms to create nearly 200 different symbols for transmitting encrypted messages across the French countryside.
Location: Haegen
Elevation above the sea: 434 m
GPS coordinates: 48.72270,7.33635
Latest update: June 23, 2025 09:52
The Grand Est displays a rich architectural and military heritage, from fortified structures like the Fort of Mutzig and the La Ferté ouvrage on the Maginot Line, to princely residences such as Château de Lunéville with its French gardens. The region also preserves religious sites like the Abbey of Sturzelbronn in the Vosges forests and the Jesuit College in Reims, founded in the early 17th century. Urban centers feature notable architectural complexes: the Kammerzell House in Strasbourg exemplifies 15th-century Alsatian half-timbered construction, while the Ducal Square in Charleville-Mézières reflects Renaissance urban planning. The Humanist Library in Sélestat holds over 150 medieval manuscripts and ancient books. Technical sites like the old Chappe telegraph tower in Saverne recall early communication history before the electric era. Historic parks, including that of Château de Pange with geometric gardens and stone bridges, offer pathways through centuries of landscape design.
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