Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

The castle of Virieu has its origins towards the year millet in the form of a castral mound of earth and wood, erected by Wilfrid de Virieu. In the 12th century, it was rebuilt in stone and became the capital of the Mansion of Virieu, mentioned since 1107 during the division of the county of Sermorens. This strategic site, located on a hilltop overlooking the Bourbre Valley, illustrates the evolution of Dauphinian fortifications, moving from a primitive defensive structure to a more permanent masonry complex.

Over the centuries, the castle underwent several major changes. In the 15th century, it was redesigned and expanded in the 17th and 18th centuries while maintaining architectural harmony. In 1220 he entered the house of Clermont by marriage, which owned it for seven generations before being sold in 1573 to Artus Prunier de Saint-André, first president of the Parliament of Grenoble. The latter is undertaking expansion work, marking the beginning of a period of aesthetic and functional metamorphosis.

The castle welcomed historical figures, such as Louis XIII in 1622, who left cannons on display in the inner courtyard. In the 19th century, after being ceded to the Count of Saint-Ferriol, it was bought in 1874 by Alphonse de Virieu, descendant of the first owners. Between 1924 and 1928, an ambitious restoration was carried out by Henri Marquis de Virieu, requiring the sale of the Brangues castle to Paul Claudel. The works, entrusted to the architect Sainte Marie Perrin, give the castle its past glory.

Ranked a historic monument in stages (1965, 1990 and in total in 2023), the castle of Virieu is distinguished by its forecourt, its entrance towers, its French gardens restored according to the plans of the seventeenth century, and its richly furnished interiors. The chapel, completed in 1681, is home to a credence carved by Stéphanie de Virieu, while rooms such as the King's room or the kitchen at the tapestries of Aubusson bear witness to its prestige. Today, it is open to the public and hosts cultural events.

The architecture of the castle reflects its multiple epochs: the entrance flanked by defensive turrets, the inner courtyard girded with a mâchicoulis court, or the 15th century pepper towers. The gardens, organized in terraces and gardens, are based on the old ramparts, mixing utility (verger-potager) and aesthetic (arabesques de bois). This place, both medieval fortress and seigneurial residence, embodies the history of the Dauphiné, between feudal power, Renaissance transformations and heritage preservation.

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