Château des Tours

In the High Middle Ages, Anse was a border town, protecting the northern dominion of the Church of Lyon against the lords of Beaujeu. At the end of the 12th century, the Church of Lyon renewed the Gallo-Roman enclosure wall. As this fortification proved insufficient in the early 13th century, Archbishop-Count Renaud de Forez (1193–1226) decided to build a new castle south of the city wall. The Château des Tours was constructed between 1213 and 1218, initially serving military purposes. It was entrusted to a canon who collected taxes and was responsible for its maintenance. From the 1270s, a captain took over its administration. In 1364, the castle was plundered by the Tard-Venus troops, but only suffered damage to its roof structures. In the late Middle Ages, it lost its military significance and subsequently served as a residential and representational building. After the Revolution, it was acquired by the municipality and housed the town hall until 1969.

Today, the Château des Tours is used by local authorities. It is open to the public and hosts exhibitions on the ground floor. Since the 1980s, archaeological investigations and restorations have been carried out, including the keep, the residential building, the north tower, and the central courtyard, which is now covered with a glass roof. The first floor houses the Archeotheque, which presents the Gallo-Roman heritage. The original 13th-century hoardings are preserved and are among the oldest in France.