Chapelet Tower

While it’s usually churches that dominate Agen's skyline, the building you see here gives them a run for their money. Listed as a historic monument since 1950, the Chapelet Tower is one of the last remaining medieval remnants in Agen. In the Middle Ages, the city was protected by a vast system of ramparts, as you can see from the small wall to which the building is attached. While the fortified walls have vanished, the Chapelet Tower has fortunately survived. It managed to escape destruction thanks to its role as a bell tower for the former Dominican convent that was demolished during the French Revolution. The tower was then turned into a prison in 1815 before being completely abandoned. Thankfully, it was restored in 2000 and now houses an architecture firm. Actually, what better workplace could there be for these building professionals than a centuries-old symbol of the city?