Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Jarlier Tower, located in Saint-Tropez, is a key element of the fortified enclosure built between 1534 and 1565. This southeast corner bastion, suitable for artillery, has been partially transformed into a dwelling, but still retains its original exterior elevations. The enclosure, of quadrangular plan, encompassed the city and its suburbs, with stone walls and corner towers such as the Old Tower or the Portalet Tower.

The origin of the fortifications dates back to 1472 with the seigneurial tower (future tower Suffren), followed by successive extensions. In 1534, a new three-fold larger enclosure was erected to protect the suburbs. The towers, such as the Jarlier Tower or the Old Tower (upgraded in 1561), were designed to withstand maritime attacks. The materials used included rubble, white limestone, red sandstone and green serpentine.

Over the centuries, the enclosure has undergone adaptations: some parts have been demolished or integrated into houses, such as the southwest tower, which has become a house. In 1589, an extension of land was added to counter Savoyard threats, but abandoned in the seventeenth century. Despite rehabilitation projects (1743, 1821), only the 1534-1565 enclosure remains today, with its four partially preserved corner structures.

The Jarlier Tower, classified as a Historic Monument in 1962, illustrates the evolution of Provencal coastal defences. Its present state mixes military remains and civil redevelopments, testifying to the turbulent history of Saint-Tropez, between protection against invasions and adaptation to urban needs. The nearby towers, such as the Portalet tower or the Old Tower, complement this defensive device today fragmentary.

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