Pile de Cinq-Mars (mausolée gallo-romain)

Cinq-Mars-la-Pile

Above the Loire, the Pile de Cinq-Mars is a brick pillar 29.60 m high, or 100 Roman feet. It comprises a base about 5.80 m on each side, two stepped-back storeys and a crowning with corbels. About 104,000 bricks cover a rubble core. The south face bears twelve panels of brick and limestone whose meaning is unknown. It is dated to the late 2nd or early 3rd century, and a 2007 archaeomagnetic analysis supports this late range. Its function remains debated. The best-supported hypothesis is that of a funerary monument, mausoleum or cenotaph, linked to a neighbouring building on a podium. Excavations in 2005 revealed a monumental terrace and a statue of an eastern captive. A military trophy, a temple, an astronomical monument, a boundary marker or a landmark for boatmen have also been proposed. The name probably comes from Saint Medard; the legend of the five warriors (quinque martes) is therefore a popular explanation. Accounts also claim that cannonballs from Villandry struck the tower or that the moon “ate” the bricks. In reality, erosion and the digging of treasure hunters account for most of the damage. The Pile was listed as a historic monument in 1840.

Getting there: On a hill of Cinq-Mars-la-Pile, some twenty kilometres west of Tours; exact access to be checked. Coordinates: English Wikipedia (47°21′15″ N, 0°28′42″ E).

Opening times and access details are given as a guide only: check before you set out.

Ambient sound