The reopening of the Tour de Guinette, an emblematic monument of the royal city, generated significant emotion on Saturday, September 19. Hundreds of residents from Étampes, the Sud-Essonniens region, and visitors from afar were able to rediscover this historic site, notably including a delegation of 150 Chinese visitors.
The ceremony was attended by numerous local and regional political figures, including deputy Nathalie Da Conceicao Carvalho, senator Jean-Raymond Hugonet, Departmental Council president François Durovray, sub-prefect Benoît Vidon, and regional councilor Tarik Meziane.
The mayor of Étampes, Gilles Bayart, acknowledged the efforts of the partners and stakeholders who enabled the tower's rehabilitation and security, including the INRAP, state services, the DRAC, the Île-de-France Region, the Department of Essonne, the Fondation du Patrimoine, Crédit Agricole, and the many donors.
'Footsteps will once again echo in the Tower. Families, children, associations, and visitors will be able to reclaim this Monument. The Tour de Guinette has watched over Étampes for nearly 9 centuries. We have preserved its stones, and from today, we will build new memories here,' stated the mayor, emphasizing the site's importance for creating new memories.
The large turnout on Saturday continued on Sunday, with another afternoon of activities and visits. Local associations, including Le Masque de Fer, the Compagnie des Muscardins, and the Compagnie des Archers, contributed to bringing this exceptional place to life.
