Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

The Château de Faverges, mentioned as early as the 12th century, was initially a possession of the Sires de Faverges, then of the Counts of Geneva. In the 13th century, he passed under the suzeraineté of the Counts of Savoy after his acquisition by Amédée V in 1316. Located at the border of Savoie and Geneva counties, he played a strategic role in regional conflicts, notably when the Faucigny was taken over in 1355.

In the 15th century, the castle was rebuilt and donated to the cadets of the Maison de Savoie. In 1501 Philibert II de Savoie attempted to sell it to François de Luxembourg, but the transaction was cancelled. He changed his hands several times, especially in 1571, when Emmanuel Philibert de Savoie gave him to Louis Milliet, founding the Milliet de Faverges family, which kept him until the Revolution.

In 1600 Henry IV stayed there during the Franco-Savoyard war. In the 19th century, the castle became a silk factory until 1976, after serving as a military hospital during the First World War. Repurchased by the municipality in 1980, it was transformed into a family holiday home, then in 2017, instead of private events under the management of Alexandra and Maximilien Genèvre.

The 32-metre-high dungeon is typical of the 13th century Savoyard castral architecture. Its foundations, dating back to the 12th century, were redesigned in 1250. In 2006-2007, he underwent a major restoration, including a 144-step staircase and a heavy-duty, panoramic view. The site also houses nests of crecerelle falcons and nest boxes for martinets.

The castle was the center of a chestnut forest under the Bailiwick of Savoie. The Chatelans, officers appointed for a defined period, managed the tax revenues and maintenance of the castle. This organization reflected the Savoyard feudal administration, where chestnuts played a key role in territorial and economic control.

Successive property of the families of Faverges, Savoie, Luxembourg, then the Milliet, Duport and Stünzi, the castle illustrates the political and economic changes of Savoie, moving from a medieval fortress to an industrial site, before returning to a heritage and tourist vocation.

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