Saint Nicolas Tower

Saint Nicolas Tower
La tour Saint-Nicolas (French)
Saint Nicolas Tower
Interactive map of Saint Nicolas Tower
46°09′21″N 01°09′25″W / 46.15583°N 1.15694°W / 46.15583; -1.15694
Location	La Rochelle, France
Nearest city	La Rochelle
History
Original use	Gateway to the Old Port of La Rochelle
Site notes
Height	138 feet (42 m)
Architectural style	Medieval
Governing body	Building managed by the CMN (Center des Monuments Nationaux)
Owner	Government
Website	la-rochelle.monuments-nationaux.fr
Monument historique

Saint Nicolas Tower (1384) along with the Lantern tower and the Chain tower, is one of the three medieval towers guarding the port in La Rochelle, France. In 1879 the French government classified it as a Monument historique (MH).

History

The Saint Nicolas Tower was named after the patron saint of sailors, This tower along with the Chain Tower (La tour de la Chaîne) stood at the entryway to the Port of La Rochelle. At times throughout history a chain was stretched between the two buildings to stop ships from entering. the building was also used as a prison throughout its history. The tower looks as it did in the 1400s.

See also

• Centre des monuments nationaux
• Vauclair castle
• La Rochelle Cathedral

References

External links

Media related to Tour Saint-Nicolas (La Rochelle) at Wikimedia Commons

• Saint-Barthélémy bell-tower at Structurae
• La Rochelle et Son Histoire: Tours Archived 2009-08-27 at the Wayback Machine (in French)
• Église paroissiale Saint-Barthélemy à La Rochelle (in French)
• Photos, French Ministry of Culture