The Tower of the Counts of Geneva
Melting glaciers of the Quaternary Period dislodged this huge rock from the mountains and deposited it in the bed of the Foron river -hence the name La Roche-sur-Foron-. The tower sitting on the rock is the last vestige of the castle of the Counts of Geneva. In fact, the original 11th century tower was a square look out, and this circular "keep" was constructed in 1258. |
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In 1617 the Capuchin monks bought this site and erected their monastery. But by 1792 the tower and the monastery were sold as national property, and the tower vandalised as a quarry by its new unscrupulous owners. Fortunately, the Capuchin monks stepped in at the end of the 19th century and saved the tower from final destruction by shoring it up with small stones.
Today, the tower may be visited, thanks to the recent restoration work carried out by the town council. Four floors remain, and after ascending 137 steps, visitors reach the circular walkway from which they can admire the old town and the splendid panoramic view from Lake Geneva (Lac Leman) and the Jura mountains to the Haut-Giffre mountain chain.
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| Visiting the tower: |
Open to visitors:
From Saturday 11.06.05 to Friday 15.07.2005
and from Monday 29.08.05 to Sunday 18.09.2005
Daily from 14.00 - 18h30
From Saturday 16.07.05 to Sunday 28.08.2005
Daily from 10.00-12.00 and 14.00-18.30
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Admission:
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adults : 2 € |
| children 8-18 : 1 € |
| children under 8 free |
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