Tour Saint-Jacques facts for kids
Saint-Jacques Tower in April 2015
|
|
| Coordinates | 48°51′28.7″N 2°20′56.1″E / 48.857972°N 2.348917°E |
|---|---|
| Location | 4th arrondissement of Paris |
| Type | Church ruins |
| Height | 52 metres (171 ft) |
| Beginning date | 1509 |
| Completion date | 1523 |
| Dedicated to | St. James the Great |
| Criteria: | Cultural: ii, iv, vi |
| Designated: | 1998 (22nd session) |
| Part of: | Routes of Santiago de Compostela in France |
| Reference #: | 868-031 |
| Region: | Europe and North America |
|
Monument historique
|
|
| Designated: | 1862 |
| Reference #: | PA00086479 |
The Tour Saint-Jacques (which means 'Saint James's Tower' in French) is a famous monument in Paris, France. It stands in the 4th area of the city. This tall tower is 52 meters (about 170 feet) high. It is built in a fancy style called Flamboyant Gothic.
The tower is all that is left of a church from the 1500s. This church was called Saint-Jacques-de-la-Boucherie. It was torn down in 1797 during the French Revolution. Only the tower was saved. Today, this tower is a national historic landmark.
Contents
History of the Tower
The Tour Saint-Jacques was built between 1509 and 1523. This was during the time of King Francis I. Rich butchers from a nearby market helped pay for it. They wanted the tower to look grand. The main builders were Jean de Felin, Julien Ménart, and Jean de Revier.
A Stop for Pilgrims
The church and its tower were dedicated to Saint James the Greater. This made it an important stop for pilgrims. Pilgrims are people who travel for religious reasons. They were on their way to Santiago de Compostela in Spain. This journey is known as the Way of St James.
The church had a special item, a relic of Saint James. This made it even more important for pilgrims. Because of its link to this famous pilgrimage route, the tower became a World Heritage Site in 1998. This means it's a place of special importance to the world.
The Tower in the 1800s
The church was mostly torn down in 1793. But the tower was saved. Someone bought the church for its building materials. A rule was made that the tower had to stay. For a while, in 1824, the tower was used to make small metal balls called shot.
The City of Paris bought the tower in 1836. It was then named a Monument Historique in 1862. This means it's a protected historical building. A statue of Saint James was placed on top of the tower in the 1800s.
During the time of the Second French Empire, the architect Théodore Ballu fixed up the tower. He put it on a raised base. He also designed a small park around it. This was when new streets like Rue de Rivoli were being built. A lot of earth was moved to make these streets flat. The new base helped the tower stay at its original height.
A statue of Blaise Pascal is at the bottom of the tower. Pascal was a famous scientist. He did experiments on air pressure. Some people think he did these experiments at this tower. A weather lab is also at the top of the tower today.
The tower even inspired a play. Alexandre Dumas, a famous writer, wrote a play about it in 1856.
A man named Nicolas Flamel was buried under the church floor. He was known for being an alchemist.
Modern Repairs
For several years, the tower was covered in scaffolding. This was so experts could check its condition. They found that most of the stone was from when the tower was first built. It was not added by later restorers. But they also found some serious cracks.
The top part of the tower was uncovered in 2008. The rest of the scaffolding was removed by early 2009. The park around the tower was also fixed up. Finally, the park opened to the public again in April 2009.
Gallery
-
Saint-Jacques-de-la-Boucherie and its surroundings on the Turgot map of Paris (1736)
-
Saint-Jacques Tower as seen from the Conciergerie, with the "Victory Column" of Place du Châtelet in 2008
-
Restoration of the Saint-Jacques Tower in November 2007
-
Saint-Jacques tower at dusk, 2015
-
Pinnacle sculpture by Paul Chenillon
See also
In Spanish: Torre de Santiago (París) para niños
- Fontaine du Palmier
- Place du Châtelet
