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Origin and history

The Duras Clock Tower is a vestige of the medieval fortifications of the Bastide, located in the east of the old town, at the end of Caesar-Jauffret Street. Built in the 13th century, it is one of the few remaining elements with the castle, the ramparts having now disappeared. Its architecture reflects its original defensive role, with arches, braces and openings for snakes on its ramparts side façade.

The upper part of the tower appears to have been enhanced in the seventeenth century, when its pyramid roof would have been added. This change coincides with an evolution of its function from a purely military work to an urban symbol, as evidenced by the Romanesque openings under the roof. The tower has been protected since 1953, the date of its inscription in the Historical Monuments by ministerial decree.

Today, the Clock Tower stands as a historical marker of Duras, in the department of Lot-et-Garonne (Nouvelle-Aquitaine). Its precise location, between Grande-Rue and Rue Traversière, makes it a landmark in the old fabric of the city. Although communal property, its modalities of opening up to the public (visits, events) are not detailed in the available sources.

The archival sources (Wikipedia, Mérimée base, Monumentum) underline its dual interest: architectural, with its medieval defensive elements, and heritage, as a witness to the bastides of the South-West. The tower is referenced under the code Insee 47086 and associated with the town of Duras, in the district of Agen. No mention is made of historical characters related to its construction or transformation.

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