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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Goa Tower, built in the 13th and 14th centuries, is a medieval signal tower located on the border between Sahorre and Casteil, in the Pyrénées-Orientales. It belonged to the defensive network set up by the kings of Majorca, allowing communications by smoke signals with other surrounding towers, such as that of Cabrils. Its strategic location at an altitude of 1,264 metres offered a wide panorama of the valleys of Vernet-les-Bains, Sahorre and Casteil.

The tower, with a circular plan with a diameter of 12 meters, includes a ground floor and two vaulted floors. It was equipped with a defensive system including an elevated door, marble-framed murderers, and a roof allowing watchers to monitor the surroundings. Its access is via a hike from Vernet-les-Bains or by a road leading to the Col de Jou, followed by a 30 minute walk.

Ranked a historic monument in 1982, the Goa Tower was restored in 1990. Its architecture suggests a possible use by the monks of the nearby Abbey of Saint-Martin-du-Canigou. The archères, devoid of stirrers, and the dome vault testify to medieval construction techniques. The tower illustrates the importance of watch systems in the Pyrenees for protection and communication between valleys.

Historical sources, such as the work of Anny de Pous or the references of Catalunya Romanica, underline its role in the Catalan defence network. Today, the tower remains an architectural witness to the exchanges and medieval conflicts in this border region between France and Catalonia.

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