Square Tower

Tour Carrée (Square Tower) is a small defensive structure standing on the slopes of the Lomont massif, right next to the village of Pierrefontaine-lès-Blamont in the Doubs department of eastern France. It's a rewarding stop for travelers who want to mix a hillside walk with a bit of military history — no crowds, no entrance fee.

What is Tour Carrée?

The tower dates from 1884 and was built as an infantry outpost, part of the so-called Séré de Rivières fortification system — a network of forts erected after France's defeat in the 1870–71 war and the loss of Alsace and Moselle. Sitting at roughly 720 meters of altitude, it was positioned between Fort du Lomont and the Roches battery, tasked with covering the gap between the two fortifications. Its armament was limited to rifles and machine guns, and the garrison numbered around twenty soldiers. The barracks held beds for twelve men, and rainwater collected from the roof fed a 3 cubic meter cistern.

This whole line of works, known as the "Lomont defensive position," was meant to protect Montbéliard by blocking enemy troop movement through the upper Doubs valley. Construction continued under General Séré de Rivières until the outbreak of the First World War.

What will you see there today?

Tour Carrée has survived in fairly good condition, still keeping its entrance door and part of its armored shutters — a rarity among fortifications of this kind, many of which have crumbled or been dismantled. The surrounding area offers views over the Lomont plateau and the Montbéliard region, making the tower a good spot to pause during a longer hike.

What role did the tower play in the war?

Tour Carrée saw combat in August 1944, when the surrounding hills served as a base for the Lomont maquis, one of the larger French Resistance groups, numbering around 3,200 fighters that summer. On August 22, 1944, at 7:30 AM, German forces attacked the tower, which the Resistance was using as an observation post. Control of the site changed hands repeatedly until fighting ended around 3:00 PM.

How do you get there?

A hiking trail forming part of the GR de Pays Monts du Lomont route leads to Tour Carrée, a path favored by walkers exploring the Lomont massif. Fort du Lomont itself, which overlooks the area, is not open to visitors, but the surrounding trails and memorial sites — including Tour Carrée — can be explored independently. Themed guided walks covering the area's wartime history are also organized in partnership with a local association dedicated to preserving the memory of the Resistance in the Montbéliard region.

When should you visit?

Spring through autumn is the best window, when the trails across the Lomont massif are dry and easy to follow and the views from around the tower are clearest. In winter, paths can be snow-covered and more demanding.

Frequently asked questions

Can you go inside Tour Carrée? The tower isn't run as a museum with set opening hours — it's a historic site in open countryside, seen mainly from the outside while hiking through the area.

Is there an entrance fee? No, reaching the tower only requires walking the surrounding hiking trails, which are free and open to the public.

Is there anything else worth seeing nearby? Yes — Fort du Lomont (closed to visitors but visible from outside), the FFI monument commemorating the fighters of the Lomont maquis, and a Lutheran church with a red-tiled steeple in the village of Pierrefontaine-lès-Blamont.

How long does it take to reach the tower? It depends on the chosen route, but as part of the GR de Pays Monts du Lomont trail, reaching it usually takes anywhere from one to a few hours depending on your starting point and pace.