WATCH TOWER

Built in the 12th century, this massive quadrilobal tower is an ancient keep of the royal fortress of Étampes. The latter suffered several sieges during the Hundred Years' and Religious Wars. Seeking to keep conflicts away from their city, the inhabitants obtained permission from Henry IV to destroy their fortified castle. A lost cause, during the 17th century Fronde, the city was the scene of terrible fighting! To see what the fortress and the Guinette tower looked like at the time of their splendour, get a reproduction of the medieval manuscript of the Très Riches Heures du duc de Berry, where these constructions are represented on the August page. Its massive appearance overlooks the city, and makes it possible to find your way if you get lost (which is not very frequent in Étampes either) because you can see it from almost anywhere, including at night, when it is lit.