LA TOUR PERRET GB

The Perret Tower, an iconic monument and symbol of an era.

An unmissable landmark and an iconic feature of the city, the Perret Tower has dominated the Grenoble skyline for over a century.

When it was built between 1924 and 1925, it was the world’s first reinforced concrete tower, standing over 90 metres tall. Built for the International Exhibition of White Coal and Tourism, which established Grenoble as the capital of the Alps in 1925, it is an observation tower offering a unique panoramic view of the surrounding mountains.

If the name ‘Perret’ sounds familiar, it is because its architect, Auguste Perret, designed numerous buildings throughout France: the Perret Tower in Amiens, the Church of Notre-Dame du Raincy, the Palais d’Iéna (among others) and, above all, he was the architect behind the reconstruction of Le Havre’s city centre following its destruction during the Second World War (a UNESCO World Heritage Site).

However, the flaws (which were poorly understood at the time) in its main material, reinforced concrete, and a lack of maintenance eventually sealed the tower’s fate. It was forced to close its doors to the public in 1966 for safety reasons but was nevertheless listed as a historic monument in 1998.

However, the time for its rebirth has come, as, since the start of the millennium, many people – scientists, politicians, architects, specialists and enthusiasts – have been campaigning for its reopening. Its renovation has attracted interest from scientific and cultural circles around the world, as it represents a flagship project in the renovation of concrete buildings globally.

Its reopening to the public was celebrated in July 2026, after more than 50 years of closure, and this book marks its rediscovery. It sets out to illustrate all the past, present and future challenges facing this iconic monument across 96 pages, organised into thematic chapters and featuring beautiful illustrations: from the context of its construction to its imminent reopening, via the restoration works.

Journaliste indépendant né à Grenoble, Richard Gonzalez vit de sa plume depuis trente ans. Il collabore à la rédaction de plusieurs magazines de la région grenobloise et de l’Isère, spécialisé dans les domaines de l’économie, de la culture et de l’environnement. Co-auteur d’ouvrages consacrés à des entreprises locales, il est par ailleurs le créateur de Champignon Magazine sur Internet et les réseaux sociaux.