St-Bon, just northeast of the tower, where a staircase leads up to the original street level at rue de la Verrerie. A statue of Blaise Pascal is located at the base of the tower, commemorating the experiments on atmospheric pressure, though it is debated whether they were performed here or at the church of Saint-Jacques-du-Haut-Pas. A meteorological laboratory is also installed at the top of the tower. The tower inspired Alexandre Dumas to write the play La tour Saint-Jacques-de-la-boucherie in 1856. Nicolas Flamel, reputedly an alchemist and a patron of the church, was buried under its floor. Modern restoration The tower was surrounded by scaffolding and obscured by sheeting for some years as surveyors investigated the condition of the stone. Recent findings show that most of the stone and its ornamentation originates from the late-medieval era of the tower's construction, and was not added by the 19th-century restorers. Unfortunately, the survey also indicates serious cracking. The top three quarters of sheeting were taken down in March 2008, revealing a renovated upper section of the tower. From October 2008 to February 2009, the scaffolds and sheeting were completely removed and the surrounding park's landscaping was being restored. Finally, on 18 April 2009, the park was re-opened to the public. Gallery See also Fontaine du Palmier Place du Chatelet References External links 1525 establishments in France 16th-century Roman Catholic church buildings in France Monuments and memorials in Paris Monuments historiques of Paris Roman Catholic churches completed in 1523 Roman Catholic churches in the 4th arrondissement of Paris Towers completed in the 16th century Towers in Paris World Heritage Sites in France Gothic architecture in Paris