Tourreluque

The tower before you stands as a true testament to the city’s medieval past; it’s all that remains of the ramparts that protected Aix-en-Provence in the Middle Ages. Back in the 14th century, during the Hundred Years’ War, the city desperately needed fortifications to keep out enemies. That’s when the Tourreluque tower was built. Believe it or not, Aix-en-Provence kept its ramparts all the way up to 1848! You can still see some leftover bits scattered around the city, but all the other towers got destroyed. This one, though, has stood the test of time. The name “Tourreluque” actually comes from the Provençal word for “watchtower,” which makes perfect sense given the building’s purpose back then. Soldiers were stationed at the top to keep an eye on the surrounding area and take action in the event of an attack. You can still see its machicolations, the openings that allowed them to rain down all sorts of projectiles on the enemy. This corner tower was used as a powder magazine from the Revolution up to the 19th century. Eventually, the ramparts were destroyed. But lucky for us, this tiny part has survived, offering a glimpse of this bygone era of Aix!