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About this place
Tour des Sarrasins is the ruin of a medieval tower in Nant, a village in the municipality of Mont-Vully, canton of Fribourg, Switzerland. It stands on the slope of Mont Vully above the Vau de Nant valley, in French-speaking country.
What is the Tour des Sarrasins?
The name means "Tower of the Saracens", yet nobody knows where it comes from. No published source explains it. The tower is dated to the 12th or 13th century. A tithe map of 1772 records it under a plainer label, "Vieille Tour" (Old Tower). It survives as a ruin rather than a building you can tour inside.
Where does it stand?
Nant was part of Bas-Vully until 2016, when the merged municipality of Mont-Vully was formed. The village splits into Nant-Dessous on Lake Murten and Nant-Dessus at the foot of the hill. It is first recorded in 1347. Until 1484 it belonged to the lordship of Murten, and from then until 1798 to the joint rule of Bern and Fribourg. Locals grow wine and vegetables, and the parish is Môtier, Reformed since 1530.
What else is nearby?
Mont Vully rises 653 m between Lake Murten and Lake Neuchâtel. From the top you see the Alps, both lakes, Lake Biel and the Jura. The hill carries a Celtic oppidum from the 2nd century BC, and the tower lies on a branch of the Sentier historique du Vully, a heritage trail that won the Swiss Post Encouragement Prize in 2019. Remains of fortifications from both world wars also dot the area.
How do I get there?
The coordinates are roughly 46.959 N, 7.102 E. You reach the tower on foot, easiest as part of a hike around Mont Vully, for example from Sugiez or Murten. Vully Tourisme in Môtier (Route du Lac 114, 1787 Môtier, +41 26 673 18 72) can advise on routes.
When should I go?
Walking on the Vully is best from spring to autumn, when the vineyards are green and the views reach the Alps. Paths can be muddy in winter.
Frequently asked questions
Can I go inside the tower? It is a ruin from the 12th–13th century, viewed from outside during a walk.
Why is it called the Saracens' Tower? The origin of the name is unknown. In 1772 it was recorded as "Vieille Tour".
Which village is it in? Nant, part of Mont-Vully in the canton of Fribourg.
Who can I ask about trails? Vully Tourisme in Môtier, or [email protected].
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