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Origin and history

The Carbonac Tower is a square tower located in Monze, Aude department, Occitanie region. From the 12th century, it stands on a private wine estate, at the exit of the village. Its sober architecture, marked by irregular assizes at the base and recent rectangular openings, suggests a defensive or watchtower function, although its precise history remains enigmatic. A local tradition evokes a stay of a king of France on this site, without further precision.

Carbonac's first written mention dates back to 1257, in an act of transfer of the senechal to the bishop of Carcassonne, including rights at the sites of Carbonac, Sobriansac and Monze. A 1500 count describes the tower as an ancient building with high, medium and low justice rights, characteristic of a small seigneury. The base of the tower would house a vaulted room in a cradle, while its original access, probably raised, was served by an external degree added later.

Ranked as a fortified building in 1948, the tower and its surroundings have also been protected as natural sites since 1945. Historical sources point to its link with a former women's monastery, now extinct, located nearby on the Breton road. Despite these elements, its exact use and evolution throughout the centuries remain partially obscure, fuelling local speculation.

Architecturally, the tower is distinguished by its almost square plan and its roof in blocking vault. The materials used, ranging from a small irregular apparatus at the base to a more regular medium apparatus in height, reflect medieval construction techniques. The rare openings, of recent invoice, do not allow precise dates to be given for any modifications to the building over time.

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