Heritage classified

Origin and history

The Barbacane tower of Cordes-sur-Ciel is a high circular stone tower built on a solid masonry wheelbase. It is an integral part of the third city hall, playing a defensive role in controlling access to the city. Its structure, now unfurled, preserves a cross-shaped window dating back to the 15th century, a remarkable architectural element of this period.

The tower is followed westward by a false tower, reinforcing its strategic role in the medieval defensive system. Classified as a Historical Monument by decree of 13 July 1927, it illustrates the military architecture of the 13th and 15th centuries. Its location, at 31 Grand-Rue de la Barbacane, confirms its integration into the historic urban fabric of Cordes-sur-Ciel, an iconic perched city of Tarn.

Available sources, including Monumentum, highlight its heritage importance, while noting that its exact location is considered to be satisfactory a priori (level 6/10). The tower, although partially altered, remains a testimony of the medieval fortifications of the Occitanie region, marked by conflict and defensive urban organization.

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