Base Mérimée: Monuments historiques · France
Tour médiévale
Alignan-du-Vent, Hérault, France
The record
- Designation
- Historic monument, registered (inscrit)
- Protection
- inscrit MH
- Extent of protection
- La tour médiévale en totalité (cad. OG 107) : inscription par arrêté du 7 octobre 2014
- Protection dates
- 2014/10/07 : inscrit MH
- Type
- donjon
- Main period of construction
- 12e siècle
- Ownership
- propriété de la commune
- Commune
- Alignan-du-Vent
- Département
- Hérault
- Region
- Occitanie
- Country
- France
- Coordinates
- 43.46945, 3.34162
- Mérimée reference
- PA34000099
Slide toward Today to fade the historical sheet and see the modern map underneath.
David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesIGN France — Géoportail
3 historical maps cover this location, the earliest the 1778 map "57. Lodeve." (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries).
The Ministère de la Culture's notice
Historique
Il sagit dune tour-beffroi datant du 12ème siècle. Elle assumait un rôle de surveillance mais aussi symbolique comme affirmation du pouvoir seigneurial. La fonction dhabitat y est quasiment nulle et les surfaces réduites et exigües. Cette tour possède trois niveaux voûtés en berceau : le premier niveau servait habituellement de stockage. Laccès aux deuxième et troisième niveaux se faisait, à lorigine, par la porte haute de létage (aujourdhui murée). La terrasse sommitale supporte le campanile et sa cloche. Au 17ème siècle, la tour fut utilisée comme grenier à sel et, au 19ème siècle, une horloge mécanique fut installée.
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
This is a belfry tower dating from the 12th century. It assumed a role of surveillance but also symbolic as an affirmation of seigneurial power. The function of habitation is virtually absent and the surfaces are reduced and cramped. This tower has three levels vaulted in barrel vault: the first level usually served for storage. Access to the second and third levels was originally by the high door of the storey (now blocked up). The summit terrace supports the campanile and its bell. In the 17th century, the tower was used as a salt store and in the 19th century, a mechanical clock was installed.
Nearby in the register
- Église Saint-Martinégliseunder 1 mi
- Château de Peyratchâteau1 mi
- Chapelle Saint-Nazairechapelle2 mi
- Domainechâteau2 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.