The Saint-Sauvant tower is located in the town of the same name, in Charente-Maritime, 12 km east of Saintes.
Qualified as "square", "Sarazine" or even "dungeon", this medieval tower has long raised many questions until recent excavations. It was not known if it had always been isolated, if it had been the keep of a feudal castle or if it was integrated into ancient fortifications.
Dominating the valley of the Koran from the edge of the plateau, dating from the 14th or 15th century, we knew, however, that it had long been used as a prison (until the 19th century) and that halls had been fitted out at its base, in the center of the historic town.
Excavations carried out from 2014 to 2019 have finally established that it was located within a fortified complex itself integrated into a castle enclosure. Two other towers were connected to it by a curtain wall, and a rampart ran up to a retaining wall. Moreover, these same excavations brought to light the remains of a gatehouse.
Protected as historical monuments, the tower is not open to the public except for the room on the first floor, with vaults, which regularly hosts cultural events such as exhibitions.
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