Royal Tower
Avenue de la Tour Royale, 83,000 Toulon, France
Description:
The Royal Tower (Tour Royale) was a protective structure, it was built in the XVI century. There is a sight on the seaside in Toulon (France).
In 1213, by order of King Louis XII, the fort was commissioned. It was designed by Italian engineer Gian Antonio della Porta. The building is classic - a rounded tower with a gun, having a diameter of 60 meters. Wall thickness averages 3 meters, but in some places reaches 5 meters. There's a big moat of water around. From the sea, the walls of the building go under water. The entrance to the fort is a drawbridge.
During its existence, Tour Royale Fort has withstood many attacks. In 1770, after the construction of the new Fort Lamalgue, the Royal Tower became a prison for prisoners of war. During World War II, Tour Royale occupied a German garrison. Therefore, in 1943-1944, the building was badly damaged by bombing. In 1947, the Royal Tower was officially recognized as a historical monument. Tour Royale Fort has been a museum since 2004.