A landmark reinforced-concrete railway signal tower in Picardy, built to serve the booming Hirson rail junction and designed in the Art déco style of northern French belfries.
At a glance
Standing 45.76 metres tall, this six-storey tower was constructed between 1920 and 1921 to control train movements at one of early twentieth-century France’s most vital railway hubs. Though decommissioned in 1944, it remains a testament to the industrial ambitions of the Compagnie des chemins de fer du Nord.
History
The tower’s construction followed rapid expansion of Hirson railway station, which became France’s second-most important rail junction after Paris owing to the growth of local mining and metallurgical industries. Architect Gustave Umbdenstock and engineer Raoul Dautry, working for the Nord railway company, designed a structure suited to both function and regional aesthetic. Built in reinforced concrete, the tower drew inspiration from the traditional brick belfries characteristic of Picardy. Its name references either the architectural tradition of Florence or the Florentine contractor who built the nearby Tower of Lens. The tower ceased operations in 1944 and was designated a national heritage monument in 1995.
What you see
The tower’s six floors served distinct railway functions: the ground floor housed cable entry; upper storeys accommodated storage, workshops, sanitation facilities, and relay systems. The control room on the sixth floor contained the optical panel governing the Mors railway switch—the tower’s operational heart. Four clock faces, each 3.20 metres in diameter, crowned the structure, marking time for all cardinal directions.
Cultural significance
The tower exemplifies early twentieth-century French industrial architecture, merging modernist materials (reinforced concrete) with regional decorative traditions (Art déco brickwork). It documents the era when railways transformed provincial France, concentrating economic power in strategic junctions.
Key facts
- Country: France
- City: Buire, Aisne department, Picardy
- Coordinates: 49.9106, 4.0733
- Built: 1920–1921
- Height: 45.76 metres
- Architect: Gustave Umbdenstock
- Engineer: Raoul Dautry
- Designated: National Heritage Site (November 6, 1995)
Practical information & getting there
The tower stands in the commune of Buire in the Aisne department of northern France. As a protected monument, access and visiting hours should be confirmed locally before planning a visit.
Sources & resources
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