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Origin and history

The Cabannes Tower, also known as the Sarrasine Tower, is a medieval building located in the village of the Cabannes, in the Tarn department (Occitanie). Dating from the 12th or 13th century, it is associated with the castle of Corrompis, of which it would have been an addiction, playing the role of signal tower or watchtower. Its square architecture (6 metres side, 15 metres high) and south-facing openings reinforce this hypothesis. It was listed as a historical monument in 1974.

Originally, access was via a broken arched door located 4 metres from the ground, via a staggering ladder, typical of defensive fortifications. The lower room, vaulted and semi-entered, was accessible by a hatch in the ceiling. The tower, now truncated from its upper floor, was probably integrated into a network of local fortifications, such as those of Bournazel or Salles, built after the Albigeian Crusade to prevent new conflicts.

The materials used, local schist in stoneware and slabs, form thick walls (1.30 m), characteristic of the defensive buildings of the period. The small square windows and bolt holes on the upper floors confirm its use as a watch. In the 16th century, texts still mention the "Château de Corrompis", whose tower is the only vestige, then owned by Paul de Cajarc (1544).

The Cabannes Tower illustrates the post-Cruise military architecture of the Albigois, marked by the desire for surveillance and protection. Its inscription in 1974 protects its facades and roofs, although its present state (disappeared) no longer reflects its original height. The sources (Wikipedia, Monumentum) highlight its role in the tariff heritage, linked to the medieval history of Occitanie.

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