A must-see
article | Reading time5 min
It's impossible to imagine the town of Charroux without its abbey and lantern tower! It was the first and last image that believers saw on their pilgrimage.
An emblematic tower, visible from afar
It was once part of the great abbey church built from the 11th century onwards.
Under this tower, a crypt was built to house the relics.
Above it was the main altar, dedicated in 1096 by Pope Urban II himself!
This space was better lit than the rest of the church thanks to eight high windows, hence the name " lantern tower". The tower's first two levels of arcades were part of the church's interior elevation. The tower was surrounded by a triple ambulatory, a sort of three-lane traffic circle, which channeled the flow of worshippers and pilgrims who came to venerate the relics.
Today, this tower is sometimes referred to as the " Charlemagne Tower ", as a reminder that the abbey was founded under his reign and belonged to him.
© Centre des monuments nationaux - Sébastien Arnault
