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Origin and history

The command office of the tower of Advance, dependent on the order of St John of Jerusalem, was built at the beginning of the thirteenth century near the river Avance, on the territory of Fargues-sur-Ourbise. It was first mentioned in 1260 in a compromise between the Commander of Nomdieu and the Gontaut family. This type of gascon castle, typical of the 13th century, served as quadrangular tower-donjon for observation and defense, overlooking the surrounding lands.

In the 14th century, the commandary was cited in legal and religious acts, as in 1344, when the house and the church of Avance were gathered in the hospital of Nomdieu. In 1471, the preceptor of Nomdieu still held the jurisdiction of Advance, and a commander of Saint-Martin d'Avance was mentioned in 1477 and 1483. The mill of the Tour d'Avance, on the other hand, was certified in 1481, illustrating the economic activity related to the site.

Between the 16th and 17th centuries, the Tower of Advance underwent several transformations. In 1549, it marked the limit of the Albret hunting park in Durance, frequented by Henri de Navarre. In the 17th century, the knight Jacques de Pichon, commander of Saint-Martin d'Avance, restored the site: he redone the staircase, closed the lower courtyard, rebuilt the chapel and added commons. This work gave the preceptory its present appearance, although the assets of Advance were again attached to the command office of Argentens in 1643.

The French Revolution marked a turning point: the goods of the order of Saint John of Jerusalem were seized. After the troubles, the commandery was purchased by Count Philippe Dijon, then handed over by inheritance to the family of Virieu until 2013. Today, after restoration work, the site houses a group lodge and a seminar venue. The facades and roofs of the dungeon, as well as the remains of the chapel and enclosure, have been classified as historical monuments since 1967.

Architecturally, the Tower of Advance is a rectangular four-storey building, with a round tower housing a spiral staircase. The top floor seems to be a posterior addition. The floors are illuminated by windows pierced after the initial construction, while the third side contains only murderers. The canal tile cover replaced the old terrace. In 1737, a state of affairs described a tiled room, a kitchen, and storage spaces, reflecting its mixed use between residence and farm.

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