Comparable to English country houses rather than follies in the usual sense of the term, they were built by the wealthy as summer residences from the 18th century onwards.
[2] Jean Giral and Charles Gabriel Leblanc were amongst the architects hired by the merchants.
[3] The folies are the visible proof of the wealth of the region in the 18th century.
[citation needed] The folies are owned by wealthy families, and some of them still make wine (especially Flaugergues).
Initially built as country houses outside the city, today they are mostly surrounded by suburbs, highways, outlet stores and the like.