French Tower facts for kids
Quick facts for kids French Tower |
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The French Tower
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| General information | |
| Type | Fortified tower |
| Town or city | Waterford |
| Country | Ireland |
| Coordinates | 52°15′26.048″N 7°6′51.56″W / 52.25723556°N 7.1143222°W |
| Construction started | 13th-14th century |
| Renovated | 15th century |
| Technical details | |
| Material | Stone |
The French Tower is an old tower in Waterford, Ireland. You can find it at the top of Castle Street. This tower is one of only six towers that are still standing from the old city walls of Waterford.
The French Tower was probably built a long time ago, sometime between the 13th and 14th centuries. People are not completely sure why it's called the "French Tower." One idea is that it's linked to a large group of French people who moved to Waterford after a big battle called the Battle of the Boyne in 1690. Many of these French people were Huguenots, who were French Protestants. Their families still live in Waterford today. The tower is located where the city wall takes a sharp turn.
What Does the French Tower Look Like?
The French Tower has a unique shape if you look at it from above. It's shaped a bit like a kidney bean. This special shape helped the tower's defenders. It gave them a wide view of the city wall, so they could see anyone trying to attack. At the same time, it didn't take up too much space inside the wall.
How Old Are the Tower's Parts?
The bottom two floors of the tower were likely built first. These parts might be from the time of King Henry III. Later, around the 15th century, more floors were added to the top. These new floors were built to hold small guns and cannons, making the tower even stronger for defense.
Other Towers of Waterford's City Walls
Waterford used to have many towers along its city walls. Besides the French Tower, there are five other towers that are still standing today. These include the Watch Tower (Waterford), the Double Tower, Reginald's Tower, the Semi-Lunar Tower, and the Beach Tower. Each of these towers played an important role in protecting the city long ago.]
