West Tower

The West Tower is the best preserved of all those built in Poilvache. Located at the intersection of the west and north curtain walls, it allowed easy movement of members of the garrison on their two patrol paths and important visual control over the Meuse valley. In the event of an attack, the nine archers of the lower and middle levels alone could put up formidable resistance, probably supplemented by machicolations.

This tower was the subject, several years ago, of a classic restoration by gunning. This method of restoration is widely criticized today and abandoned in favor of work more respectful of medieval construction methods.