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Origin and history

The fort house of La Saufaz, located north of the village of Saint-Félix in the same hamlet, dates from the first half of the sixteenth century. It is distinguished by its quadrangular architecture, complemented by a round arased tower. Inside, a prestigious room on the first floor, called aula, houses murals depicting the Nine Preux, made by an Italian artist. These frescoes, dated from the same period, constitute a rare testimony of the profane art of the Renaissance in Savoy.

At the beginning of the 16th century, the fortified house belonged to the family of Charansonay (or Charansonnex), originally from Massingy. In the 17th century, it passed into the hands of the Maillard de Tournon family, who came from Rumilly, before being transformed into a farm. This change of vocation reflects the socio-economic evolution of the Savoyard countryside, where seigneurial residences gradually lose their defensive or aristocratic residential function.

The monument has been partially listed in the Historical Monuments since 14 March 1977, a protection limited to the room on the first floor and its murals (cadastre park A 82). This recognition highlights the heritage value of interior decorations, while highlighting the relative modesty of the building compared to the larger Savoyard castles of the same period.

Available sources, including the works of Christian Regat and Elizabeth Sirot, place La Sardfaz's stronghold in the wider context of rural seigneurial habitat in Haute-Savoie. These studies show how these constructions, halfway between manor and fortified farm, illustrated the local power of noble families while adapting to the economic and geographical constraints of the Alpine valleys.

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