Construction of the Camoufle Tower XIIIe siècle (≈ 1350)
First phase of medieval fortifications.
XVIe siècle
Period of construction or modification
Period of construction or modification XVIe siècle (≈ 1650)
Evolution of the Tower of Spirits.
12 octobre 1929
Registration of northern ramparts
Registration of northern ramparts 12 octobre 1929 (≈ 1929)
Protection under Historic Monuments.
31 octobre 1929
Registration of the Camoufle Tower
Registration of the Camoufle Tower 31 octobre 1929 (≈ 1929)
Official heritage recognition.
14 avril 1932
Registration of the Tower of Spirits
Registration of the Tower of Spirits 14 avril 1932 (≈ 1932)
Extension of protection to ramparts.
1980
Transfer of a prison door
Transfer of a prison door 1980 (≈ 1980)
Reuse of medieval rampart.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Key figures
Information non disponible - No character cited
The source text does not mention any historical actors.
Origin and history
The Tower of Spirits, located in Metz in the department of Moselle (Great East region), is an element of the old fortifications of the city. Built between the 13th and 16th centuries, it is part of the medieval defensive system of Metz, marked by ramparts, towers and fortified doors. The tower, also known as the Camoufle Tower for its oldest part (11th century), illustrates the evolution of military and architectural techniques of the period.
The monument has been protected as a Historical Monument since the beginning of the 20th century. Several decrees concerned its various elements: the north and north-east ramparts (1929), the Camoufle Tower itself (1929), then the Tower of Spirits and the lower gates of the Seille (1932). These protections underline its heritage importance, linked to the military and urban history of Metz. The tower is now owned by the municipality.
The remains of the ramparts, including the Tower of Spirits, bear witness to the defensive strategy of Metz in the Middle Ages. Their location near the Arsenal and the German Gate (classified in 1966) reveals a network of fortifications designed to control access to the city. An old prison gate, transferred in 1980 to the medieval rampart, adds an additional historical dimension to the site, reflecting the successive reuses of these structures over the centuries.
