Base Mérimée: Monuments historiques · France
Tour Blanche
Issoudun, Indre, France
The record
- Designation
- Historic monument, classified (classé)
- Protection
- classé MH
- Extent of protection
- Tour Blanche : classement par liste de 1840
- Protection dates
- 1840 : classé MH
- Type
- édifice fortifié
- Main period of construction
- limite 12e siècle 13e siècle
- Dates
- 1194, 1202
- Ownership
- propriété de la commune
- Commune
- Issoudun
- Département
- Indre
- Region
- Centre-Val de Loire
- Country
- France
- Coordinates
- 46.94780, 1.98980
- Mérimée reference
- PA00097365
Slide toward Today to fade the historical sheet and see the modern map underneath.
David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesIGN France — GéoportailUniversity Library, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
5 historical maps cover this location, the earliest the 1761 map "10 Bourges." (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries).
The Ministère de la Culture's notice
Historique
La tradition attribue la réalisation de cette tour à Richard Coeur de Lion qui en aurait commandé l'exécution à l'un des chefs de bandes à sa solde, de 1194 à 1195. Elle aurait été achevée par Philippe Auguste qui s'en rendit maître en 1202. L'ouvrage présente un plan circulaire. Au pied de la tour, des pans de murs ont dû servir de chemise destinée à la protéger. Attenant à cette chemise se trouve une courtine percée de deux meurtrières. Cette courtine est adossée à une ancienne chapelle dont un angle avait été coupé pour l'établissement des fondations de la tour. Deux versions tentent d'expliquer l'appellation de cette tour. Selon la première, la tour aurait servi de prison à une jeune fille de ce nom. La seconde version explique ce nom par l'intérêt que la reine Blanche de Castille portait à la ville.
English translation
The text above is the record as published by the Ministère de la Culture, in French. The English below is a machine translation made by TreeAlive, not by the Ministère de la Culture; it has not been checked by a person. Where the two differ, the original is the record. Report a translation error: privacy@treealive.com
History
Tradition attributes the construction of this tower to Richard Coeur de Lion who would have ordered its execution from one of the heads of mercenary bands in his service, from 1194 to 1195. It would have been completed by Philippe Auguste who took possession of it in 1202. The structure presents a circular plan. At the foot of the tower, sections of walls must have served as a facing intended to protect it. Adjoining this facing is found a curtain wall pierced by two loopholes. This curtain wall is backed against an old chapel, one corner of which had been cut away for the establishment of the tower's foundations. Two versions attempt to explain the name of this tower. According to the first, the tower would have served as a prison for a young girl of that name. The second version explains this name by the interest that Queen Blanche of Castile took in the town.
Nearby in the register
- Maison du 15e sièclemaisonunder 1 mi
- Maison du 15e sièclemaisonunder 1 mi
- Porte dite de l'Horlogeporte de villeunder 1 mi
- Maisonmaisonunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.