Tower of the Counts of Geneva: A Hidden Gem in the Medieval Bourg

The Tower of the Counts of Geneva, or Château de La Roche, sits nestled in the heart of the medieval bourg of La Roche-sur-Foron in Haute-Savoie, France. A single structure, a tower, remains from the castle, testifying to a rich and colorful past. However, it is not clear exactly when the Château de La Roche was constructed. According to Jean-Louis Grillet, a Château de La Roche was already in the hands of the count Robert of Geneva in the early 12th century, but it is not known if the existing tower was part of the original construction, as it may have been built by the Burgundes in the 10th century.

The Château de La Roche was one of nine castles, or castra, bearing the name of genevois. These castles were all powerful seats of the powerful counts of Geneva, who ruled the county in the Middle Ages. The counts of Geneva controlled the Château de La Roche at least from the early 12th century, but it is not clear if it was their only seat or if they ruled from other castles as well.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons