Le Château de l'Echelle

Built at the very beginning of the 13th century, it fulfilled its military role throughout the Middle Ages, before being modified in the 16th and 17th centuries for a long, more mundane and pleasant life, until 1973. After a brief stint as a scrap metal dealer, it has been owned by the town of La Roche-sur-Foron since 1982, and is a much-appreciated cultural center.

As well as being regularly open for art exhibitions and cultural events, it is home to a learned society and its university...