LA TOUR CHAPPE

The Tour de l’Horloge or Tour du Fort (1834) was used as a relay for the world's first organised telecommunications network! In the 19th century, Claude Chappe, a former abbot, developed an optical transmission system that sent messages very quickly via relays. This revolutionary invention interested Napoleon I, who found it a fast and confidential way of communicating with his troops in the south of France. A test line was built in 1793, followed by plans to link Montpellier to Bordeaux. Marseillette was chosen to act as a relay, along with Douzens and Trèbes. La Tour de Marseillette (14 m) is the highest in Aude. However, scientists were already working on Samuel Morse's invention of the electric telegraph. This would soon replace Chappe's system which only worked during the day, in good weather and just for military communications. Claude Chappe died in 1805 and the local authority bought the tower in 1858 to house the town clock.