Drone view of the Château-fort de TrévouxDrone view of the Château-fort de Trévoux
©Drone view of the Château-fort de Trévoux|Option Drone

Château-fort de Trévoux

Built in two stages during the 14th century, then abandoned in 1563 following an attack without having been modified since its construction, the Château-fort de Trévoux is an exceptional example of the powerful stone castles of the Middle Ages.

Medieval treasure

dominating the town of Trévoux

Besides panoramic views over the Saône valley, the Monts d’Or, the Beaujolais region and even Mont Blanc when the weather’s right, the site offers an immersion into the Middle Ages!

Set out to conquer!

Charged with guarding the border and the toll on the river below, it plays above all a deterrent role. Placed high up to mark the landscape and remind neighbors that a powerful lord owns Trévoux, it offers a breathtaking panorama of the surrounding region.

This symbolic function is also behind the singularity of Trévoux’s château-fort. It preserves a very rare and particularly refined architecture through a powerful octagonal keep, with three-meter-thick walls decorated with alternating rings of white and gilded cut stone. Its originality, monumentality and the quality of its construction make it one of the major monuments of the Ain department even today.

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A must-have

for the whole family

With its wealth of distinctive features, the château-fort de Trévoux is nonetheless a highly educational monument. It was part of the dominant trends of its time. As a result, it provides an insight into the stone fortress of the late Middle Ages.

It is a precious witness to its era. It was used for two centuries without undergoing major modification, before being abandoned early in 1563 following an attack during the Wars of Religion. It has been little altered by the subsequent, often extensive, remodeling of most other castles.

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Slide in

In the skin of a knight!

Discover this site, listed as a Historic Monument, and understand the functions and role of a fortified castle. Learn how to defend the castle using the weapons available at the time. Slip into the shoes of a knight as you try on pieces of armor and helmets for young and old alike.

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