Château de Saint-Denis-en-Bugey

The Château de Saint-Denis-en-Bugey is a medieval fortress where a sturdy stone tower is the main remaining structure. The tower sits on a hilltop overlooking the Albarine gorge and dominates the landscape from its elevated position.

The fortress was first built as an earth and wood structure in 1321, then rebuilt in stone by the Dauphiné in 1326. This conversion to stone made the fortification more permanent and stronger against attacks.

The tower shows how people built stone fortifications in the medieval period to control and defend the valley below. You can still see how skillfully the builders positioned it on the hilltop to watch over everything.

You can reach the remains through a marked path starting at 3 Chemin du Buizin. The walk takes you up to the tower, where you get a good view over the surrounding landscape.

Archaeological excavations nearby uncovered Roman artifacts, showing that people lived here in ancient times. These findings prove that the location was continuously inhabited across many centuries.