Virtual tour of the passes
The Berold tower is maybe what's left of an old castel. Probably built during the nineth century, the tower is one of the oldest castel of the area.
A 1 km from the village the view from the site his really nice. Don't hesitate to stop in this place full of legend and history.
Description
It's a square building, 14.5 metres on each side, with walls some twenty metres high.
Destroyed by the Saracens in the 10th century, the tower is believed to have been renovated by the mythical Bérold de Saxe, ancestor of the first Count of Maurienne and founder of the House of Savoy: Humbert aux blanches mains. History is not very explicit about him, but we do know that he was not a descendant of Bérold, but of the royal family of Burgundy, and thanks to his support of King CONRAD II, he was given the counties of Maurienne and Savoie. He settled in Le Châtel and died in 1048. He is buried in the newly built cathedral of Saint Jean de Maurienne.
Subsequently, the Tour had a quieter history. Abandoned in the 17th century, it was renovated in 1828 by Charles Félix. During the liberation of Savoie in 1944, it was occupied by the Germans, who even held hostages there. It was not liberated until August 30, 1944. Various legends are still told about the village. There is talk of a vault containing vases filled with a delicious liqueur, and above all of a secret passage several kilometers long through the rock to the Tour de la Fournache.
The building is a listed historic monument. A church (now desecrated) and a chapel dedicated to St Marin are built on the same promontory.
Period of opening
From 01/01 to 31/12, daily.
Equipment & services
-
Unguided group tours
-
Unguided individual tours
Prices
Free access.