Collonges Fort L'Ecluse

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http://www.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=Collonges,+Ain,+Rh%C3%B4ne-

Nestled at the foot of the Jura, on the edge of the Geneva basin, opposite the French Alps you'll find Collonges Fort L'Ecluse.     A typical French rural town, life moves slowly here.  

Strolling down the main street you'll spot houses dating back to the 18th century, indeed the centre of the village has changed very little in the last hundred years.

Equipped with everything you'll need,   the village has a   butchers, bakers, general store, post office, tourist information office   and   bar - La Calèche ("the carriage").   Sit outside in the summer, join the locals in drinking a pastis, or relax after a day in the snow during wintertime. Just 5 minute stroll from La Dépendance.

CERN, the worlds largest particle physics laboratry is just 15 minutes away by car -   guided tours are available   free of charge, in several languages, from Monday to Saturday, at 9:00 or at 14:00.   Reservations essential!

The   international city of Geneva, with it's museums, restaurants, bars and gardens   is just a   30 minute drive   away.

Fort L'Ecluse

Two minutes drive from La Dépendance, or an hours satisfying hike away, is the site of Fort L'Ecluse, which gives Collonges Fort L'Ecluse its name. This impressive structure overlooks the Rhone as it winds its way into Switzerland, strategically positioned in the passage between the Jura mountains and the Alps.

The site of Fort L'Ecluse has been of importance since the Iron age, when the wooden   "tour de César" (Caeser's tower) could be found here. From the middle ages a village could be found in the vicinity of the site.

The first part of the fort as we see it today was built in the 13th century, with further parts being developed in the 15th, 16th and 17th centuries. Used by the army until 1940, the fort has been a protected site since 1978.

Click here for a virtual visit!   http://www.fortlecluse.fr/QTVR/visite_virtuelle.htm