Tour de Villefranche, from Villefranche de Quart

Introduction

On the edge of the vast meadow plain crossed by the route is the Villefranche Tower (also known as the Tour de Chétoz), which dominates the old village of Quart from above. It was once accompanied by a second tower located a few dozen metres to the east. Of this one, after collapsing at the beginning of the 20th century, only traces of the base remain visible.

There is very little documented history of these towers and the first written testimony dates back to 1401. The most accredited hypothesis regarding their use, due to their small size and strategic position in relation to the valley floor, is that they were watchtowers and signal towers functional to castles.