The Villar's gate

During the middle ages, the Dukes of Savoy turned Châtillon-sur-Chalaronne into a fortified town to protect their borders. They constructed 3 gates as part of these works of which only the Port de Villars remains today.
The job of fortifying the town of Châtillon-sur-Chalaronne was started by Philippe I Duke of Savoy in 1273 and was completed in 1321 by Duke Ame V. The Porte de Villars or Villars Gate was built using a brick called ‘carrons savoyarde’ and you can still see the arrow slits and machicolation that were used in days gone by to defend the town. In 1709 the Porte de Villars was transformed into a residence and in 1926 it was declared a national monument.