Tour de César, tower in Châtillon-sur-Indre, France

The Tour de César is a tall cylindrical stone tower rising above the old castle ruins in Châtillon-sur-Indre. Its rough gray and brown surface shows a blocked arched opening on the lower side, with green ivy growing over a mound near its base.

Built between about 1130 and 1170 under Henry II Plantagenet, the keep long served as the strong point of the castle that guarded the border between French and English lands. The structure was made a protected monument in the early 20th century.

This tower is the oldest vaulted cylindrical keep in France, a fact that locals still point out with pride. Visitors today can see how the stonework draws the eye upward along the river valley, making the tower a familiar landmark for the town.

The ruins are open to visitors, and a marked walking route helps you discover the site. Wear comfortable shoes because the ground is uneven around the tower.

The tower sits completely isolated, with no remaining wall connecting it to other buildings. A small underground space under the floor is reached through a trapdoor, a detail many visitors miss.