Unmissable point of view we invite you to climb to the top of this lighthouse which is not one! You can reach its summit to contemplate the slate roofs of the city and possibly discover within it, a temporary exhibition, for free!
Located on the largest square in Brive, Place de la Guierle, the Tourist Office reception point strangely resembles a lighthouse, but history will reveal its real original function. This curious building that looks so much like a lighthouse is actually an old water tower! It was built in 1834 to independently contain the driving machinery, the main basin, accommodation for the conservation officer and the watchman. Later, the scale for the cattle market was integrated into this building.
A lifting machine made it possible to pump the waters of the Doux, to keep them at the top of the building in a tank, after having passed through a sand filter and then to release them. The building consists of a tower forming a belvedere, and rises at the end of the promenade which ran along the canal, now covered by the Quai de Tourny. The 1st floor served as a platform for notables during agricultural and cultural events. The bell, on the east side, opened and closed the wholesale market.
This place of important markets, exchanges, was announced in 1834 thanks to the construction of the water tower. The architect Mr. Limousin, helped by Mr. Corrèze and Mr. Sauvage, wanted this building to be both useful and symbolic.
He had built it to last, and even if this water tower was only used for 30 years to receive the waters, it is still there, according to the dream of its creator.
Since November 1, 2006, access to the tower has been possible again, thanks to the work carried out by the CAB (Community of Agglomeration of Brive).
