Tour Ferrande, Medieval tower in Pernes-les-Fontaines, France

Tour Ferrande is a square tower of three storeys built of light grey and beige stone blocks, dated to the 12th century and standing in the centre of Pernes-les-Fontaines. Its upper facade has a pointed-arch window with two narrow openings and a small circular opening above; a dark vertical strip runs down its right edge. Inside, a staircase along the wall leads to the third-floor room painted with 13th-century frescoes.

The Knights Hospitaller of Saint John of Jerusalem commissioned the tower, which gradually became a symbol of medieval power in the region. In 1862 it received the status of historical monument, ensuring its protection as a cultural resource for future generations.

The third-floor frescoes include a scene labelled CLEMENS PP. IIII - KAROLVS PRIMVS REX SICILIE, showing Pope Clement IV handing the investiture bull to a kneeling Charles of Anjou in a white robe with fleurs-de-lis. On the west wall, William of Orange rides out of Orange, marked by the legend AVREGA and a flowering orange tree, to defeat the giant Isoré. Above the door, Saint Christopher carries the Christ Child.

The tower stands in the town centre, inside the medieval walls, and the upper hall is reached by a staircase running along the inner wall. The French state owns the tower while the town owns the frescoes, so access to the painted room depends on the town's opening arrangements. Ask at the Pernes-les-Fontaines tourist office before planning the climb.

The paintings on the third floor rank among the oldest military depictions in France and show a complex scene involving political figures of the time. Many visitors overlook the fine details of armor and weapons that reveal how intricately medieval artists worked.