Rouelbeau Castle (Ruin) (Vésenaz)

The construction of Rouelbeau Castle, initially made of wood and later of stone, took place in the first quarter of the 14th century. Knight Humbert de Choulex completed the construction on July 7, 1318. In the following year, the complex came into the possession of Hugues Dauphin, the Lord of Faucigny, and presumably served as the seat of the castellan. The castle played a strategically important role in securing access to Lake Geneva and the town of Hermance for the Lords of Faucigny. It maintained this defensive function until 1355, when a geopolitical reorganization of the region diminished its importance. Archaeological research and restoration work, which began recently, are uncovering parts of the moats, corner towers, and the gate, revealing the original monumentality of the structure once again.

The Rouelbeau ruin is located in Vésenaz in the canton of Geneva, Switzerland, at an altitude of approximately 435 m above sea level. It lies on a small green island, about 7 km away from the historic center of Geneva, on the left bank of Lake Geneva.

The Rouelbeau ruin is currently accessible to visitors. Ongoing restoration work is making the significance and organization of the former defensive complex increasingly understandable. A didactic trail is planned for the future.

• Vesenaz Castle (Castle), approx. 1.6 km away
• Bellerive Castle (Castle), approx. 2.4 km away
• Le Crest Castle (Jussy) (Castle), approx. 3.0 km away
• Château El Masr (Cologny) (Castle), approx. 3.4 km away