Plunge into the heart of La Rochelle's history with a visit to the Lantern Tower
A coastal town in south-west France, La Rochelle lies at the heart of the French Atlantic coast, in the Pertuis d'Antioche. To discover the charm of the capital of Charente Maritime, delving into its past is one of the best ways to find out more.
One of the relics of La Rochelle's past is the famous Gothic lighthouse overlooking the harbour: the Tour de la Lanterne. During your stay at the hotel La Monnaie, you will have the opportunity to visit and learn about the history of this tower, as it is located just a minute's walk from the hotel.
Lantern Tower: a vestige of the past
The present-day Tour de la Lanterne was built in the 15th century and, along with the Tour Saint-Nicolas and the Tour de la Chaîne, forms the three towers on La Rochelle's waterfront. A landmark in the history of the town, the 3 towers are remnants of the medieval fortifications that protected the port.
Also known as the Tour du Garrot, Tour des Prêtres and Tour des Quatre Sergents, the Tour de la Lanterne was listed as a historic monument in February 1879. These different names tell stories that have marked the city of La Rochelle in the medieval era. For example, the name Tour du Garrot is the oldest. Historically, the tower was used to disarm ships before they entered the port. A machine in the Lantern Tower was used to "garrote" the cannons and remove them from the ships before they could reach the port. This ensured the safety of both the port and the city. This is the origin of its oldest name, the Tour du Garrot.
To discover the full story, a visit to the site is the best opportunity. Without having to travel far from your La Monnaie hotel, discover all the secrets of the Lantern Tower.
Are you in La Rochelle and wondering how much you'll need to discover the Lanterne Tower and its history? The individual price for a visit to the three towers is €9.5. If you are part of a group of more than 20 visitors, the rate is €7.5.
There are, however, a few exceptions for free access to the Lantern Tower. Anyone under the age of 18 (with their family and excluding school groups) can visit La Rochelle's three waterfront towers free of charge. People aged between 18 and 25 who are EU nationals or legally resident in France outside the EU are also entitled to free admission.
Disabled people and their carers, jobseekers with a certificate less than 6 months old and people with a valid education pass can also visit the Lanterne Tower free of charge.
However, for more information on the conditions of free travel, please refer to the tours-la-rochelle.fr website.
