Description
The Tour des Dame is Douai’s first artillery tower. It was built from 1426 onwards at the north-western corner of Douai's third fortified enclosure on part of the land belonging to the Près abbey. It replaced the old Dich tower which protected the water retention valves. It is constructed from Antoing stone for the foundations and the steps of the spiral staircase. Sandstone from the Bugnicourt quarries was used for the external facings and brick for the vaults and internal facings. It measures 15m in diameter with walls 4m thick. It has four firing embrasures. The second level was covered by a terrace with a machicolated parapet, from which objects or liquids could dropped on attackers below. The tower was 20 m high with the attic set back from the terrace. The tower partly detsroyed in 1579 on the orders of Charles V. The remaining flanks are pierced with two gunports.
