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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

La Tour des Danys, also known as Maison du Brigand, Maison des Brigands or Tour des Brigands, is a historic building located in the hamlet of Danys, Cannet (Alpes-Maritimes). She derives her name from the Dany family, one of the founding families of the city. Although often associated with the 13th century, sources indicate that it would have been built in the middle of the 16th century by the monks of Lérins. This tower was used to control access to the city via the Cannes road and is considered the oldest construction of the Cannet still preserved in the state.

The tower has a marked defensive character, with thick walls of 0.68 m at the base, a height of 9 m and a width of 5.35 m. It is surmounted by nine mâchicoulis, and its original door, located 3 meters from the ground, was accessible by a ladder. A famous anecdote tells that Prosper Mérimée, passing through the Cannet, would have misunderstood an answer in Provençal and called the Tower "Tour des Brigands", a name sometimes still used today.

The Danys Tower was listed as a historical monument on December 22, 1941. Its sober architecture, with rare openings and a facade overlooking the rue de Cannes, reflects its role both defensive and residential. Today, it remains a testimony of the medieval and modern history of the region, linked to the influence of the monks of Lerins and the urban evolution of the Cannet.

Historical sources, such as the works of Antoine Léandre Sardou in 1879, underline its heritage importance. The tower is also referenced in the databases of the Ministry of Culture, confirming its status as a protected monument and its architectural and historical interest.

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