We came across a peculiar tower standing in the middle of fields in Northern France as we traversed the Champagne countryside last October.
What is the Condé-sur-Marne Tower?
In a tiny village, known as Condé-sur-Marne, stands a medieval-like tower with an elongated structure attached to it.
It's right in the middle of nowhere, which adds to the intrigue, and it was visible from the main road. We turned around and took the car right to it.
The tower, which is called la tour de La Tour de Condé-sur-Marne, looks like a castle, but it isn't.
A small signboard in French explains that it is a water pumping station to supply the nearby canal de l'Aisne à la Marne.
This 8 meter wide canal crosses hills that are 20 meters higher than the location of the pumping station, and the canal even flows through the Cathedral City of Reims.
The tower conceals 3 vertical pipes that pump the water upwards, and the same tower served as a hiding place for WW1 soldiers.
It was built in the style of a Romantic Medieval or Gallo-Roman ruin, and apparently the people of the 19th century turned this style into a trend at the time.
This tower is somewhat out of place, but on the other hand, it fits in with the surroundings. It makes for a perfect photo shooting spot in the Grand Est region in France.
Photos
Location
This tower is located in the rural area of the Champagne region in North Western France, just 40 minutes south of Reims and 20 minutes from the Champagne town, Épernay.
The village is called Condé-sur-Marne and the tower can be seen from the main road crossing the village. A small drivable gravel road takes you to the Condé-sur-Marne tower and you can park the car at the side of the monument.
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