Tour Madeloc, Medieval watchtower in Collioure, France.
Tour Madeloc is a stone tower in Port-Vendres, perched high on the Côte Vermeille hills and accessible via hiking trails. Its thick walls and internal structure guide visitors up to an observation level, where the coastal panorama opens wide.
This tower was built in the 13th century and was part of a coastal defense system that used smoke and fire signals for communication. A network of such watchtowers protected the Catalan coast for centuries against pirates and outside threats.
The tower sits among vineyards that have shaped the landscape for generations and remain actively cultivated today. The hiking paths leading to it pass through these wine-producing areas, showing how deeply local work is connected to the surrounding terrain.
The climb requires time and physical effort, as the trails are steep and involve significant elevation gain. Good footwear and plenty of water are advisable, especially in warm weather, since there is little shade along the way.
The tower contains a clever water system: a cistern collects rainwater from the terrace through a pipe network to supply drinking water to the watch posts. This system shows how builders made life practical for those stationed in isolation.
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