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Origin and history

The Albe Castle, also known as the Alba Castle or former Montravel Castle, is a building built in the 16th century and rebuilt in the 18th century. Located on a rocky spur above L'Albenc in the Isère valley, it overlooks the village and offers an unobstructed view of the surroundings. The original castle, erected in 1578 by the Châtelet family, was financed by a compensation of 60,000 guilders of gold after the dismantling of their castle in Polienas, considered too vulnerable to Protestant captures. This new castle, first named Montravel, then passed to the family of Annoux.

The estate is characterized by circular corner towers and terraced gardens, typical of the aristocratic residences of the time. Several elements, including facades, roofs, terraces, dining room, kitchen, large living room and bedroom, were inscribed in the Historic Monuments on December 28, 1978. Although privately owned, the castle is exceptionally open to guided groups at events such as European Heritage Days.

The castle of Albe illustrates the architectural evolution between Renaissance and the Enlightenment century, while at the same time testifying to the religious tensions of the Dauphiné in the 16th century. Its strategic location, near the modern roads (RD 1092 and motorway A49), recalls its historic role of territorial control in this region near Grenoble.

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