De quand date la Tour Dreyfus ?

La Tour Dreyfus date de 1856, époque à laquelle elle fut inaugurée dans le cadre de l'ancien pénitencier de Kourou, un établissement à vocation agricole.

Alfred Dreyfus a-t-il été emprisonné à la Tour Dreyfus ?

Non. La tour rend hommage à Alfred Dreyfus, le plus célèbre détenu du bagne de Guyane, mais il n'a jamais été incarcéré à cet emplacement précis.

À quoi servait la Tour Dreyfus ?

Elle servait de sémaphore : elle permettait la communication par signaux optiques avec l'île Royale, l'une des îles du Salut, avant l'arrivée de la radio.

Que peut-on voir autour de la Tour Dreyfus ?

On peut découvrir les restes de la boulangerie de la prison et profiter des plages de Kourou environnantes pour la promenade, à l'endroit où la rivière Kourou rejoint l'océan Atlantique.

Culture & patrimoine★ Free accessKourou

Tour Dreyfus : Un Phare Historique en Guyane

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Overview

The Tour Dreyfus stands at Pointe des Roches in the town of Kourou, French Guiana. This small telegraph tower is a historic relic and a notable tourist attraction, located at the point where the Kourou River meets the Atlantic Ocean.

Why Visit

The tower is appreciated for its historical character: its slight lean gives it the look of a miniature Leaning Tower of Pisa, in a picturesque setting between river and sea. Nearby, visitors can also discover the remains of the prison bakery and enjoy Kourou's beaches for a stroll or some exploration.

History

Inaugurated in 1856, the Tour Dreyfus dates from the era of the former Kourou penal colony, an agricultural-purpose establishment. Its name honours Alfred Dreyfus, the most famous prisoner of the French Guiana penal colony, although Dreyfus himself was never actually held at this specific location. Its original function was that of a semaphore tower, enabling communication by optical signals with Île Royale, one of the Îles du Salut — a crucial method before the advent of radio. In the mid-twentieth century, when the penal colony was closed and most of its buildings demolished to make way for the Hôtel des Roches, the tower remained one of the few surviving vestiges of that era.

Getting There

The Tour Dreyfus is located at Pointe des Roches in Kourou, French Guiana, where the Kourou River meets the Atlantic Ocean. GPS coordinates: 5.1585701, -52.6265501.

Getting there

Location

Kourou · Guyane

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Frequently asked questions

When was the Tour Dreyfus built?+

The Tour Dreyfus dates from 1856, when it was inaugurated as part of the former Kourou penal colony, an agricultural-purpose establishment.

Was Alfred Dreyfus imprisoned at the Tour Dreyfus?+

No. The tower is named in honour of Alfred Dreyfus, the most famous prisoner of the French Guiana penal colony, but he was never actually held at this specific location.

What was the Tour Dreyfus used for?+

It served as a semaphore tower, enabling communication by optical signals with Île Royale, one of the Îles du Salut, before the arrival of radio.

What can you see around the Tour Dreyfus?+

You can discover the remains of the prison bakery and enjoy the surrounding Kourou beaches for a walk, at the spot where the Kourou River meets the Atlantic Ocean.