Danys Tower

Listed on the Inventaire Supplémentaire des Monuments Historiques since December 22, 1941, the Tour des Danys is Le Cannet’s 1st watchtower. It is located on the rue de Cannes, more precisely in the Hameau des Danys.

Named after one of Le Cannet’s founding families, it is also known as “la Tour des Brigands”.

It was probably not built before the mid-16th century. It was mainly a “maison dimière”, built by the monks of Lérins.

Used to close the entrance to the town on the road to Cannes, it is the oldest building in Le Cannet to have been preserved in its original state.

Square in shape and built in small-scale stonework, it measures 9 m high and 5 m 35 wide. The walls are 0.68 m thick at the base. The roof is adorned with 9 machicolations. The square-shaped doorway, now walled in, was located 3 meters above ground level, requiring a ladder for access. The new entrance door is flush with the ground, with a staircase. The facade overlooks Rue de Cannes. The building’s defensive character is evidenced by the scarcity of openings and the presence of machicolations.

While passing through town one day, Prosper Mérimée asked an old woman for the name of the tower. As she spoke only Provençal, he was told: “Ah Moussu! es habitado per aqueu brigand d’Agnelin s’enebrio chasque jou.” (Ah Monsieur! Elle est habitée par cet brigand d’Agnelin qui s’enebrio chasque jou). Prosper Mérimée didn’t dare ask him to repeat himself, and thought he heard a word resembling “brigand”. So he christened the tower “Tour des Brigands”, a name still sometimes used today.

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