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Origin and history

The Tower of the Clock of Bellegarde-en-Marche is a medieval tower built in the 13th century, the only vestige of the bastide ramparts. Located on the Grande-Rue, it once flanked the western gate of the city, marking the entrance to the fortified village. Its semicircular shape, rounded to the outside and straight inside, preserves traces of its defensive role, like two archères (one on the cross) and a round gunboat. These elements recall its integration into the protective enclosure of the city, which has now disappeared.

In 1650, a partial renovation changed its appearance, probably after the removal of the original slots and mâchicoulis. The current coronation, a pepper roof surmounted by a bellet covered with shingles, dates from this period. The tower has been home since the municipal clock, symbolizing its adaptation to civic needs after the loss of its military function. Its inscription in the Historical Monuments in 1963 (facades and roofs) underscores its heritage value.

Bellegarde-en-Marche, founded as a bastide in the 13th century, illustrates medieval urbanism with its straight streets and fortifications. The tower, with the Jacqueron Tower in the east, embodied the protection of the community. Today, it remains a local emblem, bearing witness to the defensive and urban history of Creuse in New Aquitaine.

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