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Origin and history

Montmorin Castle, also known as Montmorin Fort House, is a square building flanked by two round towers, built in local red sandstone with mordorate hues. Its southern façade features smooth-lined windows, while its southern façade features a braided door. This building was erected in 1577 by master mason Jacques Bernard dit Fazy, native of La Roche-des-Arnauds, on command of Pierre Olphi dit Galhard, lord of Montmorin, after the destruction of the old castle by fire. It replaces a 13th century feudal castle, partially reusing its foundations.

The former medieval castle had successively belonged to the families of Montmorin (mentioned in 1096), Bruis (1256), Montalins (1297), La Roche (1334) and Nicat (1473). After its reconstruction in 1577, the estate passed into the hands of the Armand de Châteauvieux (1599), the d'Achard-Ferrus (1602), and finally the Tour du Pin (1618). In the 17th century, the castle was partially transformed into a farm, although its interior staircase with rustic gypsy, dated the first third of this century, remains a remarkable architectural element. This staircase, inscribed in the Historical Monuments in 1998, is distinguished by its curved vaults and moulded plaster decorations.

Today, the old castle, now a hostel, mainly retains its original volume and some old bays. Its staircase, coupled with the north-west building body, illustrates the evolution of styles between the Renaissance and the nascent classicism. The facades and roofs associated with this staircase have also been protected since 1998. The site overlooks the village of Montmorin, now a delegated commune of Valdoule, in the Hautes-Alpes department.

Historical sources, such as the Archeological Directory of the Hautes-Alpes (1888) or the works of Marie-Pierre Estienne, underline its importance in local seigneurial history. The castle bears witness to the architectural and social changes between the Middle Ages and the modern era, marked by the transition from a medieval fortress to a seigneurial residence, then to agricultural and hotel use.

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