Tower of la Babote

The Tour de la Babote, a vestige of Montpellier's ramparts

Set in the middle of a boulevard, the Tour de la Babote seems almost anachronistic. And for good reason: it was there long before the roads around it. A vestige of Montpellier's old fortifications, it watches over the southern entrance of the Écusson. The Montpellier audio-guided tour stops here to bring out, behind the modern traffic, the fortified town of the Middle Ages.

From medieval rampart to observatory

The Tour de la Babote is a vestige of the twelfth-century ramparts that surrounded the Écusson, the enclosed commune of Montpellier. Listed as a historic monument, it has had several lives over the centuries. In modern times, it was notably used as an astronomical observatory, which explains the particular look of its top and the neighbouring tram stop named Observatoire.

What to see

The tower is seen from the boulevard, where its fortified outline contrasts with the modern buildings. Its old stone and its position on the edge of the Écusson recall the defensive belt that once protected the city. It is a useful marker to locate the southern entrance of the historic centre and a precious witness of medieval Montpellier, to be enjoyed during a walk.

Practical information

The Tour de la Babote lies on a boulevard at the southern edge of the Écusson, in Montpellier, reachable on foot and served by the tram, Observatoire stop nearby. It is freely admired from the public space; access inside the monument, an old structure, may be restricted or reserved for particular occasions. It is best to enquire before any visit.

What is the Tour de la Babote?

It is a vestige of Montpellier's twelfth-century ramparts, listed as a historic monument, which notably served as an astronomical observatory in modern times.

How do you get to the Tour de la Babote?

It lies on the southern edge of the Écusson, reachable on foot and served by the tram, with the Observatoire stop a few minutes' walk away.