The Tampan tower was built in the early 17th century to control and monitor ship access to the Rhone delta and the port of Arles.
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It is part of a network of 4 towers built by the community of Arles on the navigable axes of the Rhône, along with the Baloard, Saint Genest and Saint Louis towers. In 1656, the tower lost its military role due to landfall, as it was now too far from the river. Sold privately, it underwent various extensions and transformations to become an agricultural farmhouse, a function it retained until the mid-20th century, when the Tour de Tampan tower was renamed Château de Tourvieille. Abandoned after the Second World War, the château was acquired by the Conservatoire du Littoral in 2008. In very poor condition, the building was the subject of a rehabilitation project to safeguard this remarkable heritage.
A complete stabilization of the ruin was achieved between September 2017 and March 2018, piloted by Architect Xavier Boutin and the Parc naturel régional de Camargue, under the supervision of the Conservatoire du littoral.
We invite you to visit the 9-metre-high belvedere, from which you can now discover the lagoons, marshes and beaches. The site's surroundings have also been landscaped to allow visitors to move around in a way that respects the natural environment.
The tower bears witness to the many facets of the Camargue's long history and the people who have lived there. Now dedicated to being a landmark for walkers, it becomes a magnificent gateway to the marshes.
A complete stabilization of the ruin was achieved between September 2017 and March 2018, piloted by Architect Xavier Boutin and the Parc naturel régional de Camargue, under the supervision of the Conservatoire du littoral.
We invite you to visit the 9-metre-high belvedere, from which you can now discover the lagoons, marshes and beaches. The site's surroundings have also been landscaped to allow visitors to move around in a way that respects the natural environment.
The tower bears witness to the many facets of the Camargue's long history and the people who have lived there. Now dedicated to being a landmark for walkers, it becomes a magnificent gateway to the marshes.
It is part of a network of 4 towers built by the community of Arles on the navigable axes of the Rhône, along with the Baloard, Saint Genest and Saint Louis towers. In 1656, the tower lost its military role due to landfall, as it was now too far from the river. Sold privately, it underwent various extensions and transformations to become an agricultural farmhouse, a function it retained until the mid-20th century, when the Tour de Tampan tower was renamed Château de Tourvieille. Abandoned...
