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Monument · Kourou, Caiena
Tour Dreyfus
Small signal tower on the Pointe des Roches, on Kourou's seafront, which communicated with Île Royale during the penal colony era. From the promontory you can see the Ilhas da Salvação and the sea.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
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About Tour Dreyfus
Tour Dreyfus is a small stone tower on the Pointe des Roches, a promontory on Kourou's seafront facing the sea. It was part of the former agricultural penal colony of Kourou, opened in 1856, and served as a signal tower: visual messages were exchanged from there with the tower on Île Royale in the Îles du Salut, visible on the horizon.
The name recalls Alfred Dreyfus, the French officer convicted in 1894 and sent to Île du Diable, the best-known prisoner of the bagne. The tower has no direct relation to him, but it acquired the name because of the connection with the islands where he was held.
The buildings of the old penal colony around it were demolished in the mid-20th century. Today the Pointe des Roches is one of the town's walking spots, with the tower, rocks and views of the sea and islands, and lies close to Kourou's oldest neighborhood, the Vieux Bourg, with low houses and restaurants.
It's a short walk, good for late afternoon, after visiting the Centro Espacial or on the return from the islands.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
About 20 to 30 minutes.
Best time
Late in the afternoon, with the sun setting over the sea and the Ilhas da Salvação on the horizon. In the driest season, from July to November, the islands usually appear more clearly.
How to get there
It's located at the Pointe des Roches, at the end of avenida des Roches, about 2 km from downtown Kourou, by car or on foot along the waterfront.
Tip
Combine it with dinner in Vieux Bourg, Kourou's old quarter, just a few minutes from the point.
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Tour Dreyfus
What was the Tour Dreyfus used for?
It was a signal tower of the old Kourou prison. From there visual messages were exchanged with the tower on Île Royale, in the Ilhas da Salvação.
Did Alfred Dreyfus stay at the tower?
No. The tower was named because of its connection to the islands where Dreyfus was imprisoned starting in 1895.
Can you see the Ilhas da Salvação from the Pointe des Roches?
Yes, the islands are on the horizon, about 14 km away. On clearer days they usually appear distinctly.