Centuries ago, Lille needed strong defenses. That’s what the Tour Cornière represents today. This tour is an old bastion. It is part of Lille’s medieval fortifications. It is the last vestige of those old walls.
Let’s delve into the story of the Tour Cornière. Its construction began in 1402. Philippe the Bold, Duke of Burgundy, ordered it. Jehan Sceutre oversaw the 20-year project. Imagine masons carefully placing each stone. They built a strong defense against French invaders. This was during the Hundred Years’ War.
The Tour Cornière once stood as one of 65 fortified towers. These towers protected Lille in the 15th century. Its walls were about three meters thick. They formed a formidable barrier.
In 1667, the siege of Lille damaged the tower. Later, Vauban restored it in 1672. He incorporated it into the city’s new defense system. Vauban added a horn-shaped outwork to protect it.
By 1803, the Tour Cornière had a new purpose. It became a gunpowder depot. Then, in 1875, the artillery services used it. They stored demolition wood inside.
Disaster struck in 1896. The fire at the Église Saint-Sauveur damaged the tower. Part of its wall collapsed. In 1911, the city leased the tower. The Commission Historique du Nord rented it for two francs a year. Their goal was to preserve its base.
After World War II, the Tour Cornière transformed. It became a memorial to the Resistance. General de Gaulle inaugurated it in 1959. Inside, a stone urn holds ashes. These ashes came from death camps. A sculpture by André Bizette-Lindet commemorates the victims. In 1975, it was renamed the Départemental Memorial of the Resistance and Deportation.
Today, the Tour Cornière stands as a classified historical monument. It is also served by the Lille Grand Palais metro station. It is a reminder of Lille’s resilience. It shows how Lille has transformed over the centuries. From a defensive structure to a memorial site the Tour Cornière embodies the city’s history.