Tour Clémentine, Historic tower in Monteux, France
The tour Clémentine is a medieval stone tower standing in the town of Monteux, in the Vaucluse department of France, and it is the only remaining part of a former castle. Its walls are about 6.5 feet (2 meters) thick, and its narrow openings give it the look of a structure built for watching and defense.
The tower was built in the 11th or 12th century as part of a castle that protected the surrounding region. A fire in 1415 destroyed the rest of the castle, but the tower survived and has stood ever since.
The tower takes its name from Pope Clement V, who spent time in Monteux and left a strong connection between this small Provençal town and the early years of the papacy in France. Today, the tower is lit up each evening, making it a visible landmark in the town center.
The tower stands on the Impasse de la Tour Clémentine in the center of Monteux and is easy to reach on foot from the train station nearby. A visit in the evening is worth considering, as the lighting makes the stone walls stand out clearly against the dark sky.
The tower was several times proposed for demolition by the town of Monteux before being saved each time by a change of plans. Its classification as a historical monument in 1910 put an end to those debates and gave it lasting protection.
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