Tour Rivalland, Historical tower in Fontenay-le-Comte, France

Tour Rivalland is a tower of eight levels, square at the base and then octagonal, rising from a dressed-stone foundation and topped by a Faraday cage. Its lower levels are decorated with mosaics of roses, facing unicorns, eight-pointed stars, thorny shrubs and mason's tools. On the square base, two circular medallions flank a projecting stone basin, with two symmetrical floral motifs below.

The tower was built in 1880 by former naval officer Gustave Rivalland as his personal architectural dream project. During World War II, German forces used it as an observation post.

The lower sections display detailed mosaics with roses, unicorns, and eight-pointed stars set into the stonework by hand. These decorations reflect the personal interests of who built it and remain clearly visible today.

The tower is located on Rue Nicolas Rapin and stands out prominently along the street, making it easy to spot. Visitors can view it from the outside, and the mosaic details are easiest to see during daytime hours.

The tower is one of the earliest examples of concrete architecture, mixing it with colored gravel in bold patterns not common for the 1880s. This experimental building method reveals the inventive thinking of the person who designed it.