Original fort house Moyen Âge (≈ 1125)
First traces of the medieval fief.
vers 1880
Reconstruction of the castle
Reconstruction of the castle vers 1880 (≈ 1880)
Building on medieval ruins by the Ferrier family.
après 1945
Home of war orphans
Home of war orphans après 1945 (≈ 1945)
Post-Second World War Accommodation Centre.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Key figures
Pascalis de la Rochette - Medieval Lords
First known owners in the Middle Ages.
Famille Ferrier de Montal - Owners since 1880
Rebuilders and current owners of the castle.
Origin and history
The Château de la Rochette is a 19th century reconstruction built on the ruins of a medieval strong house. Located in Saint-Geoire-en-Valdaine, in the Isère department, it is distinguished by its neo-medieval architecture, with a rectangular plan and four peppery towers. These elements, evoking the castles of tales, give it a picturesque charm. The site dominates a steep valley through the Cascade Creek, reinforcing its romantic and isolated character.
The castle was inhabited by several noble families over the centuries. In the Middle Ages, it belonged to the Pascalis de la Rochette, then passed to the Morard, before being acquired by the Ferrier de Montal family, still owner after more than a century. Reconstructed around 1880, it also served as a shelter for war orphans after the Second World War, marking its history of a humanitarian dimension.
Close to Clermont Castle, another historic building in the commune, La Rochette illustrates the feudal heritage of the region. Its location at the top of the valley and its link with the local lords in the medieval era underline its role in the territorial and social organization of Saint-Geoire-en-Valdaine. Today, its architecture and its past bear witness to the eclectic reconstructions of the 19th century in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes.
