In front of you stands the Tour d’Avall, a modest stone sentinel steeped in history. It’s part of Collioure’s old fortifications, built in the 16th century to strengthen the port’s defenses. At the time, Collioure was a strategic stronghold fiercely contested between France and Spain. The Tour d’Avall, located just below the Royal Castle, guarded the western entrance to the bay and completed the town’s defensive system. The name Avall means “down below” in Catalan, as opposed to the Tour du Puig, which stands higher up in the hills. Together, these towers formed part of a coastal watch network, linked to other observation points along the Côte Vermeille. Today, the Tour d’Avall blends quietly into the landscape. It’s not open to visitors, but you can still see its thick stone walls and the openings once used for cannons. Modest yet full of character, it’s a rare remnant of fortified Collioure—a reminder that before becoming a peaceful retreat for artists and visitors, this was once a tense maritime outpost, watching the horizon as much as it admired it.