Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The castle of Sallenôves, sometimes spelled Sallenove, is an ancient strong house built in the 12th century, then deeply transformed in the 14th–15th centuries. Located on a rocky spur at 400 meters above sea level, it overlooks the confluence of the valleys of Les Petites et Grandes Usses, near Marlioz (Haute-Savoie). In medieval times, this site controlled a strategic ford on a route from Geneva to Seyssel, generating revenues via tolls. Its counterpart, the strong house of Marlioz, monitored the Grandes Usses, reinforcing its defensive and economic role.

Originally owned by the family of Sallenove, vassal of the Counts of Geneva, the castle was mentioned in 1160 with Guillaume, called miles of aula nova. In 1275, Aimon de Sallenove paid tribute to Count Aymon II of Geneva. The site welcomes historical figures, like Emperor Charles IV of Luxembourg in 1365, back from his coronation in Arles. In the 16th century, Alexandre de Sallenove, adviser to Duke Charles III of Savoy, modernized the castle and resisted the French invasion of 1536 under Francis I. The monument also became a diplomatic place, hosting negotiations between Savoie and Bernois in 1589.

Architecturally, the castle combines medieval and Renaissance elements. The Tower of Caesar, the oldest part (thirteenth century), dominates a enclosure protected by dry ditches and a bastioned door to the arms of the Sallenove. A Gothic chapel dedicated to Sainte-Catherine, a kitchen, and houses flanked by towers (Tour Hall, Tower of Square) testify to its evolution. The Devil's room, a room reputedly haunted by a spectrum of armed horses, adds a legendary dimension to the site. After restorations in the 20th century, the castle, classified as Historic Monument in 1931, remains private property.

The strategic decline of the castle began in the seventeenth century, when its owners preferred the castle of Marlioz, renovated in 1673. The families followed each other (Malivers, Pingon, La Prunarède) until it was acquired in 1873 by Jean Daudens de Marlioz, then in 1930 by Émile Schurch, who began his restoration. Today, the site preserves traces of its military past (canonières, mâchicoulis) and seigneurial (colombier, Renaissance gallery), while embodying geopolitical rivalries between Savoie, Geneva and France.

Its history reflects the stakes of medieval Geneva: control of trade routes, feudal alliances and border conflicts. The castle also illustrates the architectural adaptation of the Savoyard fortified houses, moving from the Roman dungeon to a Renaissance residence, before becoming a local heritage symbol. The legend of equestrian spectrum, unique in Haute-Savoie, reinforces its mystery.

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