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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Tower of the Clock of Castellane, also known as the Porte Saint-Michel, is a vestige of the medieval fortifications of the city, built between the twelfth and fourteenth centuries. It is distinguished by its stone masonry and its tuff stone chains, typical of Provencal defensive architecture. Originally opened to the throat, it was transformed into a communal belfry in the 18th century, with the addition of a metal campanile before 1775, composed of two superimposed bulbs surmounted by a girouette and a cross. The tower, 25 meters high, houses a weight clock whose strings cross an empty floor, while a screw staircase leads to its mechanism.

Ranked a historic monument in 1920, the tower illustrates the evolution of urban fortifications in Provence. Its ground floor, vaulted in a cradle, allows the passage of Rue Saint-Victor, while its upper floors, accessible by an opening communicating with a nearby house, house the watchmaking system. The original mâchicoulis was replaced by the current belfry, whose cylindrical structure and wrought iron campanile make it a remarkable architectural element. The traditional dating of the tower, around 1359, coincides with the construction of the ramparts of Castellane, reinforcing its role in the defensive history of the city.

The Clock Tower also symbolizes the adaptation of military buildings to civilian uses. Its campanile, added long after its construction, reflects the growing importance of bells to the rhythm of community life, while its classification as historic monuments underscores its heritage value. Today owned by the municipality, it remains a major witness to Castellane's medieval and modern past, mixing defensive, urban and temporal functions.

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