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普罗旺 (Provins) 之恺撒塔 (Tour César)
11世纪前,普罗旺只是交通要道上的关隘,后来慢慢发展成为一个富有得令人羡慕的商业城镇。从11世纪开始,香槟地区的封建领主开始领悟到远程贸 易的重要性,并开始利用领地内所辖城镇的地理优势。普罗旺正处在欧洲商旅往来于北海与地中海城市间的必经之路上,从各国涌来的商人带来各色货品在 此交易:羊毛、布匹、香槟、毛皮、颜料、珠宝……13世纪,法国开始举办香槟酒展览会,每年春秋,香槟酒展览会都要在普罗旺举行,这使普罗旺成为欧洲贸易的焦点之一,并且在法国国王菲利普、圣路易斯的封臣统治时期达到了声望的顶点。
12世纪始建的恺撒塔,如今只剩下塔楼的主体部分,边缘的城墙已经坍塌。当年它的主要作用是寮望戍卫,塔层底部用来关押犯人。(http://www.revefrance.com/bbs/article.php?do=read&id=125)
Legend tells us that the town of Provins originally dates from Roman times. According to this same tradition it was Julius Caesar who built the great tower of Provins, while in point of fact it was built in the 12th century. We are sure that a Tower existed prior to 1137, because it is mentioned as marking the limit of the fair area in a charter granted by Count Thibaud II.
The Tower was intended as a place of refuge should the town be captured. It was also used as a watchtower and a prison. Most of the surrounding feudal estates owed allegiance to the Tower of Provins, and the new owner of any such estate had to come to the Tower to swear "fealty and obeisance". In the 15th century the Tower was in bad repair, and English troops tried to capture it on two separate occasions. At the beginning of the 17th century the mayor of Provins, François de Beaufort, decided to repair and roof the Tower.
In addition to the lower hall, Caesar's Tower today still offers: the outer wall that is known as the English Crust (Pâté aux Anglais), a vaulted guardroom, the governor's room and the 17th century timberwork. Above all, this is the finest vantage point for a view over the surrounding countryside. (http://www.provins.net/anglais/decouverte/tour_cesar.htm)
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