Tower called the Tower of the Father-Labat

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Origin and history

The Tower of Father Labat is a military building built in 1703 under the impulse of Governor Auger, to defend the northern part of Basse-Terre against English incursions. Located at the junction of the municipalities of Baillif and Basse-Terre, it is part of a system of coastal fortifications. Its two-metre thick stone and sand mortar walls housed a piece of artillery and could accommodate a dozen soldiers. Despite its conception, it did not fulfil its defensive role, the English taking Baillif the same year.

The tower owes its name to the Dominican missionary Jean-Baptiste Labat (1663–38), who supervised its construction and participated in the local religious establishment of the "Pères-Blancs". This strategic site, near the Fathers River, marked a vulnerable area of the island. Although fortifications failed against the English, the tower symbolized French colonial efforts to secure Guadeloupe in the 18th century. It was listed as a historic monument on January 22, 1979, recognizing its heritage importance.

Today, the tower stands on the edge of National Highway 2, connecting Basse-Terre with Pointe-Noire, on the coast-subwind. Its modest but robust architecture reflects the military construction techniques of the time. Despite its operational failure, it remains a tangible vestige of colonial conflicts in the West Indies and of the influence of Father Labat, a major figure in Guadeloupe's history.

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