Did you know that Francheville is a commune in the Metropolis of Lyon? It sits in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of eastern France. Francheville is a western suburb of Lyon.
Let’s explore Francheville. Its area spans 8.18 square kilometers. In 2022, the population was 15,664. This gives it a density of 1,900 people per square kilometer. The elevation ranges from 181 to 312 meters. The average elevation is 262 meters.
One site of interest in Francheville is the Château de Francheville. It is listed as a monument historique. Another is Fort du Bruissin. This is an old military fort.
The Château de Francheville’s ruins stand in Francheville. It is in the Rhône department. The castle was founded in the 12th century. The ruins are a registered historical monument. They were registered in 1982.
The Château de Francheville sits west of Lyon. It dominates the Yzeron valley. This was a privileged military position. It stood at the crossroads of several routes. These included old Roman roads.
Renaud de Forez, the Archbishop of Lyon, founded the Vieux Château. This happened at the dawn of the 13th century between 1175 and 1200. A castellan held the fief. The archbishops appointed him. The castle’s mandate extended to Oullins and Saint-Genis-Laval.
In 1476, Charles de Bourbon appointed Guillaume de Quincampoix as castellan. By 1514, a lawsuit revealed the building’s poor condition. The castle lacked a drawbridge and required a ladder for entry. The gate’s bretèche had fallen. The walls were in disrepair. The keep’s door and roof were rotten. The prison tower was ruined. The chapel also ruined served as a hayloft. The main building had been on the ground for years. The castle cistern was neglected and degrading. The walls of the keep were also in disrepair.
There was talk of destroying the castle remains in 1884. But the mayor’s request was not followed. Reinforcement work on the rocky base began in 1990.
The “châter” or “chaster” appears as a polygonal enclosure. Its walls are over two meters thick. Only a ruined two-thirds of the keep remains. It is atop a rocky escarpment. Ruins of the east wall are visible. There is also a tower open to the throat. About half of the south and north walls remain.
The structure consists of medium-sized granite rubble. The mortar contains sand and small gravel aggregates. The walls are 6 to 8 meters high inside. They dominate the exterior by about ten meters. The walls are about 1 meter thick in straight sections. They are 2 meters thick at the tower. A window and a brick-lined niche are still visible.
Francheville is divided into three distinct neighborhoods. These are le Bourg or Francheville-le-Haut, le Châter or Francheville-le-Bas, and Bel Air. Le Châter owes its name to the castle. Its ruins overlook the Yzeron valley. A rocky outcrop supports these feudal ruins. A bridge spans the Yzeron Valley about 45 meters below. Houses with terraced gardens descend to the stream. Landslides have occurred. Consolidation work was done.
Glacial movements shaped the region during the Quaternary period. The Yzeron sands were used in Roman times. They were used for mortar in Lyon’s ancient theaters.
Ammonites are found. They have often been included in works of art.
In conclusion, Francheville offers a blend of historical intrigue and natural beauty. Its strategic location and rich past. From the Château de Francheville to the geological formations shaped by glaciers, Francheville is a captivating destination.