Presumed construction 1517-1521 (≈ 1519)
Probable construction period of the tower.
11 décembre 1908
Internal classification
Internal classification 11 décembre 1908 (≈ 1908)
Protection of vaults and floors under terrace.
20 août 1913
External classification
External classification 20 août 1913 (≈ 1913)
Extension of protection to the structure.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
Floor under terrace, including the vaults of this floor: classification by decree of 11 December 1908; Tower, externally up to the ground level of its platform and internally up to and including the vaults that support this platform. : by order of 20 August 1913
Key figures
Information non disponible - No character cited
The source text does not mention any historical actors.
Origin and history
The Market Tower, also known as the Petit Sault Tower, is a military structure built in the 16th century, probably between 1517 and 1521, as part of the Langres defensive system. Located at the northwest corner of the urban enclosure, it overlooks a steep slope and was intended to control the road leading to Paris. Its U-shaped architecture, with 7-metre thick walls, made it possible to build cannons and resist enemy fire. The two vaulted rooms, connected by a monumental staircase, could each accommodate five mouths by fire, while steps followed the slope of the terrain.
The tower combines innovative defensive elements for the era, such as dogive cross vaults supported by a cylindrical central pillar and a double arch separating spans. With a height of 18 metres and a diameter of about 20 metres, it illustrates the adaptation of medieval fortifications to the progress of artillery at the beginning of the Renaissance. Its classification as Historic Monuments, first for its interior in 1908 and then for its exterior in 1913, underscores its heritage and architectural importance.
Integrated with the defence network of Langres, a strategic city of the Haute-Marne, the tower reflects the military stakes of the region during the wars of the first half of the 16th century. Its dominant position and its massive structure give a remarkable testimony to the fortification techniques of this period, marking the transition between medieval castles and modern bastions. Today owned by the commune, it remains a symbol of the historical and military heritage of the Great East.
