Clock Tower

The clock tower

The clock tower, another stop on the Tours audio-guided tour, gives a sense of the scale of the former eleventh-century basilica of Saint-Martin. This tower, once called the Treasure tower, was its south tower.

From treasure to clock

It was not demolished with the rest of the building because a tower was needed to house a bell ringing the opening and closing hours of the market. A clock was later installed, giving it its present name.

What to see

Listed as a historic monument since 1840, the tower cannot be visited but can be admired from outside. Its height and sturdiness recall the scale of the vanished basilica. Take time to compare its outline with that of the nearby Charlemagne tower.

Practical information

The clock tower is in the historic centre of Tours, near the Charlemagne tower. It cannot be visited and is freely viewed from the street.

Why is the clock tower so called ?

Because a clock was installed in it after a bell that announced the market hours.

Since when is it listed ?

It has been listed as a historic monument since 1840.