Architecture
~Turrets~
Is any castle complete without at least one turret? French design for castles through the ages is replete with turrets used as guard towers. Later, turrets appeared in smaller non-royal residences, which were still spacious by today's standards. As late as Haussmann's rebirth of Paris as a modern city begun in 1853 and continued by others through 1927, turrets were still popular architectural features no longer used for security reasons.
Chenonceau's main building has turrets at each corner, but the most beautiful turret is the detached ancient guard tower.
Château de Chenonceau has a free standing guard tower before the moat that leads to the entry to the castle.
The guard tower is known as the Marques tower, named after the owner who built the turret in the fifteenth century. The larger turret has a smaller turret attached to it. Round towers provided guards with sweeping views through small windows where they could see all around the property.
Although the Chenonceau turret was built for protection, the tower's design includes more than basic utilitarian details. Elaborate beautiful stonework surrounds the windows and the top of each of the two turrets that form the guard tower.
The entry to the Marques tower is especially beautiful with the detailed designs around and above the door.
Another example of a castle with turrets is the privately-owned ancient castle in Montford in the Dordogne Valley with its multiple turrets.
A large medieval-style turret has a walled walkway at its top for greater surveillance of the surrounding countryside. An additional small turret begins halfway up the castle's side.
In La-Roque Gageac, a small town in the Dordogne Valley, is an ancient residence dominated by its round turret. The house is built into the side of a sheer cliff providing protection all along its back side. Very likely the stairs to the upper floors are within the round tower that connects two sections of the house.
Round turrets are also prominent features in the Paris Conciergerie and Palais de Justice that currently houses law courts. During earlier centuries the building was a royal palace, then a prison, including holding Marie Antoinette until her execution.
Early morning light captures a beautiful reflection of the Conciergerie in the Seine River.
Haussmann apartments in Paris offer architectural features known world-side as classic French design and include round turrets. Residents have sweeping views of Paris rooftops from their circular terraces.
Grand French doors offer views from indoors as well as access to views from outdoors on the narrow terraces.
In today's modern homes and businesses that include turrets, the turrets frequently contain the building's stairs instead of outposts for guards.
Seeing Paris apartment buildings with round turrets inspires using a turret as part of a new French-designed house. Dining areas on the first floor, sitting areas on the upper floors, and terraces on the roof top are all spaces from which residents can enjoy gazing across oceans, lakes, gardens, forests, and city lights.
Turrets may bring Victorian houses to mind in the United States, but by using stone, French doors, and wrought iron balconies, turrets can also be synonymous with classic French design.
For photos of modern French design houses with turrets, see the following photos on my Pinterest board, French Country Design.
Viewing photos taken in France is a grand way to discover authentic French design for creating your own
French-inspired garden and home.
