Lanterne des morts de Ciron, Historical monument in Ciron, France
The Lanterne des Morts de Ciron is a medieval stone tower standing in the village of Ciron, in the Indre department of France. It is made up of a cylindrical column topped with a cone-shaped stone roof, and it rests on a base of stone steps.
The lantern was built in the 12th century to hold a light above a cemetery at night, and it remained in use until the French Revolution. In 1862, it was officially listed as a protected historical monument, which helped ensure its survival to the present day.
The lantern still stands on the grounds of an old cemetery called Estrée, at the edge of the village. You can look up at the arched windows near the top and imagine the faint light of an oil lamp shining through them at night.
The monument is freely accessible and located near the center of Ciron, making it easy to reach on foot. There are no facilities on site, so it is best to plan a short visit and bring anything you might need.
Inside the column, there was once a cord and pulley system used to raise a small oil lamp up to the level of the arched windows near the top. The hook that held this mechanism in place has since disappeared, most likely during a cleaning or repair at some point over the centuries.
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