Bozel Tower

En un regard

Le château en bref

The Bozel Tower, known as the Tour Sarrazine (Saracen Tower), dates from the late twelfth century and is considered the oldest building in the Tarentaise Valley; its name has no connection with the Saracen invasions of the ninth and tenth centuries. Four storeys high and measuring over 8 m along each side, it is built of rough-hewn stone bound with lime and sand mortar, with regular dressed stones at the corners and openings. It formed part of a larger fortified residence held by the powerful Rouge family, in the service of the Archbishop of Tarentaise and the Counts of Savoy, and later by the Verger family from the thirteenth century onwards. A flood in 1630 damaged its lower level. Restored, it houses a permanent exhibition on the history of the canton, from the Neolithic period to the present day, as well as temporary exhibitions.