Lanterne des morts de Sarlat-la-Canéda, Medieval funerary monument in Sarlat-la-Canéda, France
The Lantern of the Dead in Sarlat-la-Canéda is a slender stone tower with multiple openings running up its cylindrical shape, rising roughly 9 meters high. The structure stands near the Cathedral of Saint Sacerdos within the heart of the medieval town.
Built in 1180, the tower was originally designed to guide funeral processions and mark the medieval cemetery location. Its construction is linked to a visit by Bernard of Clairvaux, suggesting possible connections to monastic orders of the time.
The monument was part of medieval burial practices where such towers served as nighttime beacons for cemeteries. They helped mark burial grounds and guided nocturnal funeral processions through the darkness.
The tower sits on uneven ground, so take care when exploring the immediate surroundings. From here you can enjoy views across Sarlat's rooftops and the tightly packed medieval buildings.
Many visitors overlook that the openings in the tower wall once held burning torches that glowed at night. This functional design shows how practical medieval architecture could be in lighting the surrounding landscape.
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