Tour Saint-Antoine, Bell tower and television tower in Loches, France.

The Saint-Antoine Tower is a bell tower with an octagonal top section crowned by a dome featuring four dormer windows. It rises to about 52 meters in height and was once connected to a chapel structure that no longer survives.

Construction began in 1529 and continued through the third quarter of the 16th century as the tower was built as part of a larger religious complex. The adjoining chapel eventually disappeared, leaving the tower standing alone as a separate structure.

The tower became Loches's belfry after the French Revolution, when it passed to the town as national property. Its stone balustrades carry monograms and heraldic figures, among them the arms of Honorat II of Savoy, governor of Loches until his death in 1580, who probably had the building finished. Look for these carvings on the two upper levels.

The tower stands on Rue Saint-Antoine at the northern edge of the medieval town, a short walk from the royal fortress and the Church of Saint-Ours. It is a landmark on a walking route through Loches rather than a site with regular opening hours; check with the local tourist office for any guided visits.

The tower's two upper levels carry carved stone balustrades decorated with monograms and heraldic figures, including the arms of Honorat II of Savoy, governor of Loches until his death in 1580, who probably had the building finished. Look for these coats of arms below the upper arches.