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Philippe le Bon Tower

Tour Philippe le Bon

Philippe le Bon Tower, locally known as Tour Philippe le Bon or Tour de la Terrasse, stands in the center of the city of Dijon in the Côte-d'Or department in France.

The Philippe le Bon Tower is situated in the heart of the Palace of the Dukes of Burgundy. The first fortification at this site was a Gallo-Roman castrum.

In the late 9th century the Duchy of Burgundy was formed out of the Kingdom of Burgundy. At that time there was a simple ducal castle here, utilizing the walls of the old castrum. In the 12th century a stone watchtower, which was named Briancon, was built on the site of one of the castrum's old towers. By then the castle was slowly turning into a palace.

From 1365 on, Duke Philip the Bold had the palace completely rebuilt. He also had a 3-storey residential tower built in the palace; the Tour Neuve (New Tower).

Philip the Good (Philippe le Bon in French), who had been Duke of Burgundy since 1396, used the New Tower as a prison for René of Anjou, Duke of Bar and Anjou and Count of Provence, from July 1431 till May 1432. Then Rene was temporarily released, leaving his 2 sons as hostages. In 1434 Philip the Good ordered Rene to return to his prison, from which he was released 2 years later for a heavy ransom. From then on the tower was called the Tour de Bar (Bar Tower).

Around 1460 Philip the Good had the Tour de la Terrasse built on the site of the old Briancon Tower, by the architect Jean Poncelet. It was built in the shape of a slightly curved trapezoid, with 6 floors and is 46 m high. Although intended as a watchtower it gradually came to represent the power of the Dukes of Burgundy and was later called the Philippe le Bon Tower after Philip the Good.

In the 18th century the Philippe le Bon Tower was used as an astronomical observatory.

At present the Palace of the Dukes is used as the city hall of Dijon and a museum of fine arts. The Philippe le Bon Tower can be toured with a guide for a fee. Sadly enough you don't get to see the rooms in the tower but the view from the top is wonderful. Mind you, this is a medieval tower, so no elevator, just a very long spiral staircase. The Bar Tower can only be admired from the outside.

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Philippe le Bon Tower

Bar Tower

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previousnext

Philippe le Bon Tower

Tour Philippe le Bon

Philippe le Bon Tower, locally known as Tour Philippe le Bon or Tour de la Terrasse, stands in the center of the city of Dijon in the Côte-d'Or department in France.

The Philippe le Bon Tower is situated in the heart of the Palace of the Dukes of Burgundy. The first fortification at this site was a Gallo-Roman castrum.

In the late 9th century the Duchy of Burgundy was formed out of the Kingdom of Burgundy. At that time there was a simple ducal castle here, utilizing the walls of the old castrum. In the 12th century a stone watchtower, which was named Briancon, was built on the site of one of the castrum's old towers. By then the castle was slowly turning into a palace.

From 1365 on, Duke Philip the Bold had the palace completely rebuilt. He also had a 3-storey residential tower built in the palace; the Tour Neuve (New Tower).

Philip the Good (Philippe le Bon in French), who had been Duke of Burgundy since 1396, used the New Tower as a prison for René of Anjou, Duke of Bar and Anjou and Count of Provence, from July 1431 till May 1432. Then Rene was temporarily released, leaving his 2 sons as hostages. In 1434 Philip the Good ordered Rene to return to his prison, from which he was released 2 years later for a heavy ransom. From then on the tower was called the Tour de Bar (Bar Tower).

Around 1460 Philip the Good had the Tour de la Terrasse built on the site of the old Briancon Tower, by the architect Jean Poncelet. It was built in the shape of a slightly curved trapezoid, with 6 floors and is 46 m high. Although intended as a watchtower it gradually came to represent the power of the Dukes of Burgundy and was later called the Philippe le Bon Tower after Philip the Good.

In the 18th century the Philippe le Bon Tower was used as an astronomical observatory.

At present the Palace of the Dukes is used as the city hall of Dijon and a museum of fine arts. The Philippe le Bon Tower can be toured with a guide for a fee. Sadly enough you don't get to see the rooms in the tower but the view from the top is wonderful. Mind you, this is a medieval tower, so no elevator, just a very long spiral staircase. The Bar Tower can only be admired from the outside.

Gallery

Philippe le Bon Tower

Bar Tower

Details
Hits: 2259