Château Neuf de Vertrieu, 17th-century French castle in Vertrieu, France

The Château Neuf de Vertrieu is a castle from the mid-17th century with a main residence and four square towers as its defining features. Two towers showcase curved imperial-style roofs while the other two are topped with pavilion-style coverings.

The castle was built in the mid-17th century to replace an older ruined structure that previously occupied the site. A major reconstruction led by Lyon architect Claude Perret in the early 1700s transformed it into the building we see today.

The name Vertrieu comes from the Latin Viriacum, and the castle chapel served the parish before the village church was built. Look for the painted ceilings inside, which 17th-century residents commissioned to decorate the main rooms.

The castle remains private property but its landscaped park and riverbank areas along the Rhône can be visited during specific opening times. Plan your visit ahead as access times may vary depending on the season.

The approach from the monumental gate is paved with rounded stones that locals call 'cat's head' stones, a paving method found across the region rather than only here. Look down as you walk in: the same rounded cobbles appear in village lanes nearby.