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Origin and history

The castle of Poncin was founded at the end of the 12th century by Humbert II de Thoire-Villars, then rebuilt in 1290 by Humbert IV de Thoire. It became a strategic center of the seigneury of Poncin, linked to the sires of Thoire-Villars, before being ceded in 1308 to the dolphin John II of Vienna for 7,500 Viennese books. The rights then passed to the Counts of Savoy, confirmed by acts in 1375 and 1385.

In 1402, Humbert VII, the last sire of Thoire-Villars, sold Poncin to Count Amédée VIII de Savoie, while retaining the enjoyment of the castle until his death in 1423. The estate remained Savoyard for a century and a half, serving notably as a dowry to Anne of Cyprus and Claudine of Brittany. In 1513 he was included in the dowry of Philiberte de Savoie, wife of Julien de Medici, before returning to the house of Savoie after his death without an heir.

In the 16th century, the castle changed hands several times: ceded in 1531 to Charles de la Chambre, then recovered in 1565 by Jacques de Savoie-Nemours, who had him built into a barony. The Dukes of Nemours made significant changes in the 16th and 17th centuries. In 1601 he was dismantled by the Biron Marshal on the order of Henry IV. In the 18th century, it was partially rebuilt by Artus-Joseph de la Poype-Saint-Jullin, then passed to the Quinson, who restored the terraces in 1760.

The French Revolution severely damaged the castle, left behind until 1831, when Poncin's mayor, Jantet, bought it to build an English garden. He then belonged to Joseph Savarin de Marestan, from an old Bugey family. Today, only facades, roofs, remains of fortifications, terraces and gardens have been listed as historical monuments since 1970.

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