Calais' Medieval Watchtower

[poliphilo]

We had lunch on La Place des Armes in Calais- at one end of which is the magnificent 12th century Tour de Guet (watchtower)- which is one of the very few fragments of old Calais to have survived a succession of natural disasters and wars.

Comments

[pondhopper.livejournal.com]

It looks very solid and wears its mission of being a sentry well.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

The square it sits in is otherwise entirely modern and architecturally undistinguished. I'm guessing it was flattened in WWII.

[endlessrarities.livejournal.com]

I always thought that the treatment of the good people of Calais in the medieval wars with France was despicable...

Incredible photo - gives me vertigo!!

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

You mean the thing with the burghers?

I caught a fleeting glimpse of Rodin's monument to them as we fleeted past the town hall.

Calais has been in the front line of a lot of wars.

[endlessrarities.livejournal.com]

Yeah. That's the one.

[oakmouse]

Oh wow. *cranes neck* Hope I get to Calais to see that in person some day.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

If you ever get to England, Calais is only half an hour away by train.

[oakmouse]

*nods* I've been to England once, in 2003, and hope to get back some day. I also want to visit Waterloo some day, and the Louvre, so that means crossing the Channel anyway. If I do get back across the pond at all, I'll try to work it all in.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

We wanted to go to Waterloo, but it was closed.

[ibid.livejournal.com]

I've never acually been to Calais despite taking day trips to France from Kent.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

It looks interesting. I'd like to go back and spend some time there.