Tour de Pirelonge, Roman monument in Saint-Romain-de-Benet, France.
The Tour de Pirelonge is a stone Roman burial monument that rises beside the ancient Roman road network with a cone-shaped crown at its top. Its square base and slender proportions make it a striking feature standing among farmland and forest.
This monument was built between the 1st and 4th centuries during Roman rule as a cenotaph honoring a prominent regional figure. The tower has endured through the centuries since the Romans left, remaining a lasting landmark in the countryside.
This structure is part of a network of Roman burial monuments scattered across the Saintonge region. It reflects how people of that era chose to honor their important dead through lasting stone structures in the landscape.
The monument sits in open countryside surrounded by vineyards and woodland, easily accessible on foot for visitors. There are no facilities nearby, so it is best to plan a visit during fair weather and bring what you might need.
Archaeological excavations revealed that actual burials were placed within a three-sided enclosure at the monument's base. This discovery showed that the tower served as more than just a symbol but held the remains of the honored dead.
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