Timeline

Heritage classified

Origin and history

The Papegault Tower of Saumur is an emblematic monument of the city, built between the 14th and 15th centuries. It is one of the fortified remains of this period, bearing witness to medieval military architecture. Its name, "Papegault", evokes a tradition of shooting with the arbalete or bow on bird-shaped targets, common practice in the Middle Ages for training soldiers or local festivities.

Ranked Historic Monument by decree of 22 March 1965, the tower is protected with adjoining courtesins. It is located in Place Vauban, in the center of Saumur, and its exact address is referenced as 5 Place Saint-Michel. GPS location and cadastral data (parks G 908 and G 909) confirm its integration into the city's historic urban fabric. No information is available on its current use (visit, rental, etc.) in the sources consulted.

The available data are mainly from the Merimée database and Monumentum, without any additional details on sponsors, architects or specific historical events related to the tower. The accuracy of its location is considered "a priori satisfactory" (note 7/10), suggesting a clear identification of the site despite the absence of detailed architectural descriptions in the sources.

At the time of its construction, Saumur was a strategic place in Anjou, a region marked by the conflicts of the Hundred Years' War. Towers such as the Papegault served as both a defence point and a symbol of local power. Their presence reflected the importance of fortified cities in the territorial and military organization of the late Middle Ages, where lords and bourgeois invested in infrastructure to protect people and property.

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