Château des Tours

Medieval castle built by Renaud de Forez, comprising a cylindrical keep, a semi-circular tower and a central rectangular building. Inside: Gallo-Roman mosaics, small archaeological museum...
Château des Tours (13th century). Small archaeological museum. Built in rubble and country limestone. The castle comprises a cylindrical donjon (1213) to the south, a semicircular tower to the north (1217-1218) having maintained its 13th century roof and a central rectangular main building (1218). 15th century spiral staircase.
The complex assembly of pieces of oak wood used for the defence of the castle has been preserved. This vestige is of exceptional interest considering that it is the oldest in france (dating using dendrochronology).
A late 2nd century mosaic classified as a "Historic Monument" that was discovered in 1843 on the site of the Grange du Bief is exhibited at the Château. This mosaic is incomplete (1/8) (71.10m X 3.20m) would have measured 16m X 11m.
It also contains a fragment of Claude's Borne Milliaire, discovered along a country lane. This terminal, dated 43 A.D., confirms that Anse was a fortified point on the great Roman road from Lyon heading north.

The Association Arts Civilisations Patrimoine offers tours of the Château des Tours on the second and fourth Saturdays of the month, from March to mid-November.
It also offers guided tours of Old Anse on the third Saturday of the month, from March to mid-November.