THE CASTLE OF THE LADDER

At the heart of the village of L'Échelle stands an imposing ^15th-century château, flanked by two ^16th-century round towers and a watchtower, known as the Massacre Tower, named in memory of the massacre of the village by the Spanish army during the Thirty Years' War, after the Battle of Rocroi. Purchased by the municipality, the château has since been almost entirely restored. The first floor now houses the town hall, and the former classroom on the^1st floor was converted in 2003 into the Musée de l'École d'hier. The château's courtyard, meanwhile, hosts numerous cultural and other events throughout the year.