Tour Mataguerre
FortressHidden Treasure
Tour Mataguerre, located in Périgueux (Dordogne), is a medieval landmark built in the Middle Ages. The monument is currently closed to visitors.
Key facts
- Type
- Fort
- Period
- Medieval (11th-15th century)
- Location
- Périgueux, Dordogne, Nouvelle-Aquitaine
- Visit
- Closed to visitors
- GPS
- 45.1827, 0.7192
- Mérimée Reference
- PA00082761
A stone sentinel standing on the edge of Périgueux, the Mataguerre Tower is one of the last remnants of the medieval ramparts that surrounded the city. Its imposing limestone cylinder, over twenty metres high, embodies the defensive power of 13th-century Périgueux.
History
Standing at the south-western corner of the ancient fortifications of Périgueux, the Mataguerre Tower imposes its cylindrical silhouette on the urban landscape like a fragment of eternity snatched from the Middle Ages. The last virtually intact vestige of the medieval wall that protected the town, it offers visitors a rare glimpse of 13th-century military architecture in Périgord. What makes the Mataguerre truly unique is its urban presence: unlike many defence towers isolated in the countryside, it is set in the heart of a lively old quarter, surrounded by gardens and alleyways, giving it an atmosphere that is both intimate and striking. The region's golden limestone, typical of the Périgord Blanc region, captures the light at any time of day, offering photographers a palette of hues ranging from pale ochre to warm amber, depending on the amount of sunlight. The interior of the tower, accessible by a beautifully crafted spiral staircase, reveals the implacable logic of medieval defence: carefully oriented archways, corbelled machicolations, wooden floors reconstructing the successive levels on which the garrison was organised. From the summit, the view takes in the Roman-tiled roofs of Périgueux, the silhouette of Saint-Front cathedral and, on a clear day, the wooded hills of Périgord that form a permanent green setting. A visit to La Mataguerre is a natural part of a walking tour of the medieval city, just a stone's throw from the Puy-Saint-Front district and its Renaissance streets. The Mataguerre is one of the essential points of reference for anyone wishing to understand the history of Périgueux over the centuries, from the Roman city to the fortified medieval town.
Architecture
The Mataguerre tower is a fine example of the cylindrical flanking tower built in Périgord and south-west France in the 13th century. Its round shape, preferred to the square tower from the end of the 12th century for its greater resistance to siege projectiles and its lack of blind spots, is in keeping with the general evolution of medieval military architecture. Around twenty metres high and with an internal diameter of around six to seven metres, it has several storeys punctuated by wooden floors resting on stone corbels. The materials used are local limestone, which is abundant in the white Périgord region, cut in a regular medium pattern for the external facings, giving the tower its characteristic beautiful blond hue. The walls, which are more than two metres thick at the base, were particularly resistant to siege engines. The crown of the tower is adorned with corbelled machicolations supported by stone brackets, enabling the defenders to hurl projectiles or boiling oil directly at attackers attempting to scale the walls. The access door, originally placed high up so that it could only be reached by a detachable ladder, bears witness to the passive safety principles typical of military architecture in this period. Inside, a stone spiral staircase leads up to the various levels, whose walls are pierced by archways with internal splaying, allowing precise shooting while limiting the exposure of the archers. At the top, there is an unobstructed terrace from which the lookouts could monitor the approaches to the town and signal any danger with fire or bells.
Related Figures
Évêques de Périgueux (XIIIe siècle) — commanditaires présumés de l'enceinte dont la tour faisait partieConsuls du Puy-Saint-Front — représentants de la bourgeoisie marchande ayant financé et entretenu les fortificationsProsper Mérimée — inspecteur des Monuments historiques qui contribua à l'inscription de la tour sur la première liste de classement de 1840Soldats anglais (XIVe-XVe siècle) — prisonniers de guerre présumés retenus dans la tour, à l'origine de la légende étymologique du nomArchitectes-restaurateurs du XIXe siècle — chargés des premières campagnes de consolidation post-classement
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Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Tour Mataguerre located?
Tour Mataguerre is located in Périgueux, Dordogne department, Nouvelle-Aquitaine region, France.
When was Tour Mataguerre built?
Tour Mataguerre dates back to a period built in the Middle Ages (11th-15th century).
Is Tour Mataguerre open to visitors?
Tour Mataguerre is currently closed to visitors.