Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Chapelet Tower, located in Agen on Rue François-Arago, is a vestige of the first urban enclosure, prior to the 13th century. Its square base in medium apparatus, with walls of 1.25 m thick, dates from the 12th century. The lower room, vaulted in cradle and divided by a later floor, bears witness to its initial defensive use. The two upper floors, built of brick, were renovated in the 14th century, probably after the construction of a new enclosure.

At the end of the 16th century, the tower was integrated into the convent of the Dominicans of the Chapel, founded in 1585, serving as a bell tower to their chapel. After the Revolution, she had various assignments: saltpeter warehouse in 1795, forage store until 1814, correctional prison in 1815, and school of mutual education in 1818. Sold with the convent in 1822, it became a private annex before being renovated in 2000 to accommodate an architectural agency.

The tower illustrates the architectural and urban evolution of Agen, moving from a military role to civil and religious uses. Its Romanesque lower part contrasts with medieval brick additions, reflecting successive adaptations. Ranked a historic monument in 1950, it now embodies a preserved heritage, mixing medieval history and modern reuse.

Historical sources, such as the works of Philippe Lauzun (1912, 1890), emphasize its importance in the primitive enclosure of Agen, while recent studies (Stéphane Thouin, 2000) document its restoration. His name comes from the Dominican convent which englomerate, marking its link with local religious history.

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