Tour carrée de Sainte-Maxime, Fortified tower in Sainte-Maxime, France

The Tour carrée de Sainte-Maxime is a square stone tower from the 16th century standing in the town centre of Sainte-Maxime on the French Mediterranean coast. Its thick walls and regular openings reflect its military role, and it now serves as a television tower. The interior is not open to visitors.

The square tower dates from the 16th century, when Sainte-Maxime's coast was exposed to raids by Barbary corsairs and other pirates. It formed part of a coastal watch system: a lookout could spot sails offshore and warn the harbour below. The tower is inscribed as a monument historique.

The tower stands at the heart of the town center, where locals and visitors pass by regularly and see it as part of the community's identity. Its presence reminds people of how coastal defense shaped the growth of Sainte-Maxime.

The tower stands at Place de la Libération in the town centre, a short walk from the harbour front. It is a solid stone structure with no visitor facilities, and the interior is not open for tours; the exterior and its setting in the square can be seen at any time.

The tower later served as a television relay: its square top carries an antenna, a use far removed from the 16th-century watch post. Look for the small openings in the stone walls, which let guards observe the bay without exposing themselves.