Saint-Jacques Tower

This tower looks like a piece of cathedral left behind in a garden. In a way, it is: it is all that remains of the church of Saint-Jacques-de-la-Boucherie, the church of the butchers' guild. The tower was built between 1509 and 1523 in Flamboyant Gothic, its stone carved like lace.

1The road to Compostela

The church was dedicated to Saint James, and pilgrims leaving Paris for Santiago de Compostela gathered here before heading south along Rue Saint-Jacques. At the top of the tower, a statue of the apostle still watches over the city, with the symbols of the evangelists at the corners.

2The alchemist's grave

Nicolas Flamel was buried in this church in 1418. His tombstone, which he commissioned himself, is now in the Musée de Cluny. Nearby, two streets are named after him and his wife: Rue Nicolas-Flamel and Rue Pernelle. For lovers of the occult, the tower became a place heavy with symbolism.

The church was sold during the Revolution and demolished from 1797. The tower was spared and, so the story goes, was used for a time to make lead shot by dropping molten metal from the top.

3What to look out for

• The statue of Blaise Pascal at the base: it recalls the experiments on air pressure that, according to tradition, were repeated at this tower.
• The gargoyles and animals on the upper corners.
• The figure of Saint James at the very top.