Rouelbeau Castle, Medieval fortress ruins in Meinier, Switzerland.
Rouelbeau Castle is a medieval fortress with a rectangular layout flanked by round towers, its stone walls still visible in the landscape. Information panels and a bronze model on the grounds help visitors understand how the original structure once appeared.
The fortress was built in the early 1300s by a local knight to secure his authority over the surrounding area. It functioned as a strategic stronghold within the feudal networks that shaped the region at that time.
The site carries the name of its original noble owner and remains a symbol of medieval power in the region. Walking through the ruins, you can sense how this fortified residence once commanded the landscape below as a seat of authority.
You can reach the ruins on foot from Meinier village, though the path is not well marked and the site sits in an open area. Visit during clear weather, as the ruins offer no shelter and exploring them requires you to be comfortable walking on uneven ground.
This fortress is the only surviving large medieval military structure in the Canton of Geneva, making it exceptionally rare in the region. Its hilltop placement was deliberately chosen to maintain control over the valleys below and the surrounding territories.
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