Tour de la Lanterne, Medieval lighthouse tower in La Rochelle, France
Tour de la Lanterne is a medieval tower structure located in La Rochelle on the French Atlantic coast. The building features a cylindrical base topped with an octagonal spire decorated with Gothic-style trefoil windows.
The tower was constructed between 1445 and 1468 under Mayor Jehan Mérichon's direction as part of the harbor's defensive system. Over time it was repurposed as a prison, fundamentally changing its role within the city.
The walls display over 600 engravings left by prisoners from the 17th century onward. These scratches and inscriptions tell personal stories of people who were held in confinement here.
The tower is open to visitors with multiple levels to explore, including an observation area overlooking the harbor. The internal staircase is narrow and steep, so comfortable shoes and a reasonable level of fitness are helpful for the climb.
In 1985, artist Jean-Pierre Pincemin created a patterned concrete floor design inside the tower to commemorate its prison history. This modern artistic intervention stands in striking contrast to the medieval stonework surrounding it.
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