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Origin and history

Sonnaz Castle is a former seigneurial residence located in the municipality of Sonnaz, Savoie (region Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes). Although its origins may date back to the tenth century, the first written records of the seigneury date from the thirteenth century. The site preserves architectural elements from the 15th, 16th and 17th centuries, including a 16th century round tower, a square tower and a large historical hall. Owned by the Gerbais family of Sonnaz since 1368, it was established as a county in 1681 for François-Joseph de Gerbais.

In 1602, the large castle hall hosted a preparatory meeting at the Geneva Escalade, a landmark event in its history. A fire in 1792 destroyed some of the buildings and archives, followed by major renovations in 1860 which led to the demolition of the dungeon, a tower and a wing. The recovered stones were used to build Italian farms and loggias. The castle, once surrounded by moat (combated in the 19th century), now features a double arcade façade and remains of its drawbridge.

Partially listed at the Historic Monuments in 1979 for its facades and roofs, the castle remains a private property closed to the public. Its state of conservation is considered satisfactory, despite the transformations undergone over the centuries. The still-owner Gerbais family has continued a lineage linked to the site for more than six centuries. Historical sources underline its role in Savoyard local history, between noble residence and place of political strategies.

The archives also mention the loss of documents during the 1792 fire, limiting the precise knowledge of certain periods. The changes of the 19th century, though radical, preserved key elements such as arcades and traces of the medieval defensive system. The castle thus illustrates the architectural and social evolution of seigneurial houses in Savoy, between the Middle Ages and the modern era.

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