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.
Location: La Rochelle
Inception: 1468
Address: Rue sur les Murs, 17000 La Rochelle, France
Opening Hours: Monday-Sunday 14:15-17:30
Phone: +33546415604
Website: http://la-rochelle.monuments-nationaux.fr
GPS coordinates: 46.15576,-1.15715
Latest update: December 6, 2025 16:04
La Rochelle documents over seven centuries of French maritime history through its medieval fortifications and Renaissance architecture. The old port is guarded by three stone towers from the 14th and 15th centuries - the Saint Nicolas Tower, the Tour de la Chaîne, and the Lantern Tower - which once controlled access to the sea. The Great Clock Gate from 1476 connects the harbor front to the old city streets. The city center preserves buildings from the 16th through 18th centuries, with arcaded passages along Rue du Palais and Rue des Merciers. The Fontaine des Pilori dates from the 16th century, while the City Hall features Renaissance facades from 1595. The Musée du Nouveau Monde examines La Rochelle's transatlantic trade connections. The Les Minimes marina now serves more than 5,000 boats, making it one of the largest yacht harbors on the French Atlantic coast. The modern Passerelle Nelson Mandela, opened in 1993, carries pedestrians across the main harbor. Beyond the city center, the bridge to Île de Ré extends roughly 2 miles (3 kilometers) across the Bay of Biscay.
La Rochelle and its surroundings offer families a range of activities along the French Atlantic coast. The city itself holds several attractions, including the aquarium with over 12,000 marine animals, medieval towers at the Old Port, and various museums such as the Maritime Museum and the New World Museum. Visitors can walk through the historic center with its Grosse Horloge and Saint-Louis Cathedral or explore the beaches at La Concurrence and Minimes. Port des Minimes provides access to boat trips, while parks like Charruyer Park offer green spaces for relaxation. The region extends to the offshore islands of Île de Ré and Île d'Oléron with their beaches and the Phare des Baleines lighthouse. Inland, attractions include La Palmyre Zoo with over 1,600 animals, Zoodyssée in Chizé, and Court d'Aron floral park in Saint-Cyr-en-Talmondais. History enthusiasts can visit the Corderie Royale and naval museum in Rochefort, while Fort Boyard stands as a recognizable landmark off the coast. Natural areas like Pierre Brune park near Mervent and the Rompsay Canal round out the offerings with walking trails and water activities.
Tour Saint-Nicolas
284 m
Vieux-Port de La Rochelle
273 m
Tour de la Chaîne
219 m
Grosse Horloge
375 m
Parc Animalier Charles-Édouard Beltremieux
366 m
Commanderie de La Rochelle
496 m
La Coursive/Scène Nationale La Rochelle
193 m
Prefecture hotel of Charente-Maritime
194 m
Musée des modèles réduits
435 m
Clocher Saint-Jean de la Rochelle
134 m
Plage de la Concurrence
287 m
Parc Charruyer
272 m
Église des Carmes
241 m
Bastion du Gabut
312 m
Porte des deux moulins de la rochelle
152 m
Hôtel Leclerc, La Rochelle
335 m
Hôtel particulier, 15 rue Verdière, La Rochelle
282 m
Hôtel particulier, 3 rue de l'Escale, La Rochelle
508 m
Maison Pillaud
393 m
Maison Léon
437 m
Musée du flacon à parfum
422 m
Admiral Duperré
386 m
The Wave
325 m
Monument to Eugène Fromentin
400 m
Maison, 1 rue Chef-de-Ville (La Rochelle)
386 m
La Rochelle front range light
375 m
Fortifications maritimes de La Rochelle
152 m
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