Tour du Guet

Calais, France

The Tour du Guet is a 13th-century watchtower. It is 39 metres high and features a dovecote for carrier pigeons. The tower dates from 1214, when Philip I, Count of Boulogne built fortifications in the town. Damaged by a 1580 earthquake, it was used as alighthouse until 1848, when it became a watch tower. During World War I, it served as a military post.

References:

Wikipedia

Address

Rue de la Paix 1-5, Calais, France

See all sites in Calais

Details

Founded: 1214
Category: Castles and fortifications in France
Historical period: Late Capetians (France)

More Information

en.wikipedia.org

Rating

4.3/5 (based on Google user reviews)

Blockhaus d'Éperlecques (27,6 km)
La Coupole (39,4 km)
Basilica of Notre-Dame de Boulogne (30,7 km)
Boulogne-sur-Mer Belfry (30,8 km)
Saint-Omer Cathedral (36,8 km)
Fort Mahon (24,4 km)
Château de Boulogne-sur-Mer (30,6 km)
Saint-Saulve Abbey Church (55,4 km)
Mimoyecques Fortress (13,5 km)

User Reviews

Janet White (3 years ago)
They have improved this place immensely used to be a pass through place but I would have no problem staying a few days here now. They also have a fantastic food market on a Saturday

Dick de Boom (5 years ago)
Nice old to wee on modern square

PC Sanderv20v (5 years ago)
The tower was alright but the surroundings were a bit grime. I didn't like the city, sorry... ?

Shaun Phillips (5 years ago)
Everytime we just drive past but this time we decided to visit and were pleasantly surprised.

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

Finest Norman castles in Italy

Exploring the History of Northern Poland

Discovering Slovenia's Historic Wonders

Photo from Flickr, copyright Mark1792

Historic Site of the week

Rosenborg Castle

Rosenborg Palace was built in the period 1606-34 as Christian IV’s summerhouse just outside the ramparts of Copenhagen. Christian IV was very fond of the palace and often stayed at the castle when he resided in Copenhagen, and it was here that he died in 1648. After his death, the palace passed to his son King Frederik III, who together with his queen, Sophie Amalie, carried out several types of modernisation.

The last king who used the place as a residence was Frederik IV, and around 1720, Rosenborg was abandoned in favor of Frederiksborg Palace.Through the 1700s, considerable art treasures were collected at Rosenborg Castle, among other things items from the estates of deceased royalty and from Christiansborg after the fire there in 1794.

Soon the idea of a museum arose, and that was realised in 1833, which is The Royal Danish Collection’s official year of establishment.