Construction of the tower fin XVIIe siècle (≈ 1795)
Probable construction of the current tower.
XVIIIe siècle
Partial reconstruction
Partial reconstruction XVIIIe siècle (≈ 1850)
Three higher levels rebuilt.
1er octobre 2021
Registration historical monument
Registration historical monument 1er octobre 2021 (≈ 2021)
Official protection of the tower and courtine.
printemps 2023
Renovation
Renovation printemps 2023 (≈ 2023)
Restoration campaign of the monument.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
The Martyrs' Tower and its courting portion located 4 Earth Road, on Parcel No. 366; the eastern courtine, on Parcel No. 365, situated 2 chemin des Terres, appearing in the land register section AN, and on Parcel 194, located 20 rue Guironnet; and the west court, on Parcel 515, in the land register section AN: inscription by order of 1 October 2021
Key figures
Information non disponible - No character cited
The source text does not mention any specific historical actors.
Origin and history
The Martyr Tower is a vestige of the old walls of the old Annonay, in the Ardèche. Modern artillery tower installed in a salient east wall, it overlooks the old district of the Martins, near a ford on the Deôme. Its name evokes an episode of the Wars of Religion, where the inhabitants of Annonay, having taken up arms, were thrown from the top of the towers of the city. This monument illustrates the religious tensions that have marked the region.
The present tower, built at the end of the seventeenth century, was partially rebuilt in the eighteenth century for its three upper levels. It integrates into the former Convent Sainte-Marie and is part of a wider defensive system, including 14th century walls and watchtowers. This system protected the castral settlement, established on a hill between the valleys of the Deôme and the Cance, whose confluence lies downstream of the city.
In 2019, an archaeological excavation campaign was conducted to enhance this heritage, culminating in its designation as historical monuments on October 1, 2021. A renovation was undertaken in the spring of 2023, marking a key step in the preservation of this iconic site. The tower and its courtyard, properties of the commune and private individuals, today bear witness to the military and urban history of Annonay.
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