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Tour de Crest today

France · Partial ruin

Tour de Crest

The Tour de Crest is the surviving square keep of the former Château de Crest in Crest, Drôme, France. Once the central tower of a larger medieval castle, the massive stone keep now dominates the town and is open to visitors.

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Photograph via Wikimedia Commons

Its prime

1394

Today

Partial ruin

As it stood in 1394

What Tour de Crest looked like in its prime.

A tall, square dressed-stone keep rising in a simple, blocky silhouette to about 52 metres, formed of pale grey limestone ashlar. The lower mass has small rectangular and slit windows and a continuous crenellated parapet; behind it a higher rectangular upper tower with a row of large arched openings and a projecting machicolation-like corbel course. The tower stands on a wooded hillside above the town, with a low curtain wall visible on the slope and a flat roof terrace with rail and flags.

Its story

The story of Tour de Crest.

The Tour de Crest is the imposing vestige of the vanished Château de Crest in the Drôme, at 52 metres, one of the highest keeps in Europe, if not the highest of all. The massive square stone tower is all that survives of the medieval castle whose central tower it once was.

A medieval town developed around the foot of the tower, bearing the name of the master of the area, Lord Arnaud de Crest. The keep still dominates the town today and is open to visitors.

Step inside

7 places to explore in 1394.

The record describes 7 distinct spots at Tour de Crest, including 1 interior: upper defensive chamber. Create your own photoreal reconstruction and explore every one, more scenes means more rooms, more angles, and more of the place to stand in.

Exterior approach from townBase of the keep, looking upLower battlement walk and parapetUpper tower and corbel courseTop roof terrace looking over the valleyUpper defensive chamberLower curtain wall on the hillside

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The artist rebuilds it as it stood in 1394, a photoreal reconstruction that belongs to you alone. Pay with coins, no subscription needed.

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Questions about Tour de Crest

What is the history of Tour de Crest?

Tour de Crest developed as the central keep of a medieval castle from the 11th to the 15th centuries. A grand square dressed-stone tower was built in 1394. In 1632, Cardinal Richelieu, acting on Louis XIII’s orders, destroyed the castle, leaving the massive tower. Its upper defensive floors later became a prison until 1873.

What is inside Tour de Crest?

Inside Tour de Crest are the upper defensive spaces, later used as prison galleries, with walls covered in hundreds of prisoners’ graffiti. The main tower has four storeys, and its upper room was originally an open terrace before being covered by a tiled roof. A cistern at the base collected rainwater through a vertical conduit.

Who owns Tour de Crest now?

Tour de Crest has belonged to the town of Crest since 1988. It was classified as a historic monument on 6 June 1877. The town has allowed visitors to visit the tower.

Why was Tour de Crest built, and what was it used for?

Tour de Crest was built for defence as the keep of a medieval castle and the seat of the seigneury. Its upper defensive floors were later transformed into prison galleries, which remained in use until 1873. After the castle was destroyed in 1632, the surviving tower continued as the dominant stronghold above the town.

Where is Tour de Crest?

Tour de Crest is in Crest, in the Drôme. The tower stands above the town on a wooded hillside, with the remains of a low curtain wall visible on the slope.

When was Tour de Crest built?

Tour de Crest was built in phases from the 11th to the 15th centuries, with its grand square dressed-stone tower recorded in 1394. The base of the tower is described as dating from the 4th century, when it was Roman. The site's first-raised year is not recorded.

Was Tour de Crest ever attacked or besieged?

Tour de Crest was besieged in 1217 by Simon de Montfort during the Albigensian Crusade. After Montfort reached the fortress, Adhémar de Poitiers agreed not to intervene against him, and Montfort soon left to return to Toulouse. The account does not state that the tower was captured.

What did Tour de Crest look like in its prime?

Tour de Crest is a tall, square dressed-stone keep about 52 metres high, built in pale grey limestone ashlar. Its blocky lower mass has small rectangular and slit windows, a continuous crenellated parapet and a higher rectangular upper tower. The upper section has large arched openings and a projecting corbel course.

Is Tour de Crest still standing, or is it a ruin?

Tour de Crest is partially ruined, but its massive square keep still stands. It is the surviving tower of the former Château de Crest, after the rest of the castle was destroyed in 1632. The base of the former ramparts and the glacis remain visible on the hillside.

Can you visit Tour de Crest?

Tour de Crest is open to visitors. The surviving keep is a historic monument, and since 1988 the town of Crest has allowed tourists to visit it.

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