La Tour Pentagonale: A Medieval Sentinel of Castellane

La Tour Pentagonale, a historical monument since 1921, stands as the most imposing and best-preserved tower of Castellane's old fortification system. Constructed in 1359 as part of a defensive wall with fourteen towers, it has guarded the town since the Middle Ages. The tower's pentagonal design, though irregular, rises five stories high, reaching almost 20 meters and built on the highest point of the ramparts. While the tower's interior is not accessible to visitors, its exterior provides a fascinating look at medieval construction. The masonry consists of small, somewhat irregular courses of squared limestone rubble, with corner chains primarily made of tufa stone. Notably, the fourth floor features large, rusticated ashlar chains and remnants of a machicolation. Traces of two archers can still be observed in the tower's structure. At the foot of La Tour Pentagonale lies the Jardins de la Tour, offering a picturesque setting with panoramic views of Castellane, the iconic Roc, and the Verdon valley. The tower is a key landmark in Castellane, a village known for its rich history and strategic location at the gateway to the Verdon Gorges.