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Origin and history

The Châtel de Theys, located 650 metres above sea level in the commune of Theys (Isère), is a strong house built between 1279 and 1283 by the noble family of Bellecombe, on a terrace overlooking the Grésivaudan valley. This site of more than three hectares, accessible by a medieval road, overlooks the streams of the Battiards and Pierre Herse. The building consists of two parts: the first (1279-1283), oriented north, and the second (circa 1325), arranged southwest. A chapel dedicated to Saint Vincent is nearby.

The original castle, built by the Aynard family (Monteynard) in the 11th and 11th centuries, was exchanged in 1246 with Guigues VII, Dauphin of Vienna, against the territory of Savel. In 1282 the territory was bequeathed to the Count of Geneva in thanks for his allegiance to the Count of Savoie. The Châtel, built on a castral mot, then became the residence of the Bellecombe de Theys. From 1276 to 1365, his management was entrusted to Chaplain officers, including Girard de Bellecombe and Rodolphe de Menthon, before property disputes erupted from 1360. The original castle of the Aynards, on the motte, was already in ruins in the 15th century.

The hall of the first building, dating from the early 14th century, is decorated with 150 m2 of frescoes telling the story of Perceval the Welsh, inspired by the Conte du Grail de Chrétien de Troyes (circa 1180). These paintings, organized in three registers (featureddrapery, historiated scenes in blue quadrilobes, heraldic frieze), illustrate the beginnings of the legend in fifty-two medallions, symbolizing the weeks of the year and the initial stages of the chivalry. Identified in 1994 by Philippe Walter, they are the only known French cycle of Perceval, prior to the German and Italian versions.

Ranked a Historic Monument in 1993 for its painted decorations, the Châtel was gradually acquired by the commune of Theys (northern part in 1992, southwest in 2011). Restoration work, supported by the Heritage Foundation and the Heritage Lotto, aims to preserve frescoes and open the site to the public. An immersive visit of the aula is offered as part of the exhibition "At the assault of castles!" at the Museum of the Old Bishopric of Grenoble (2024-2025).

The Châtel architecture combines defensive elements (rock spur, medieval access road) and residential elements, such as the vaulted niche sink, dust windows, or the Monteynard weapons fireplace. The second part (1325), transformed into a home, features sculpted trilobed windows. An ongoing archaeological study seeks to clarify the internal organisation and other paintings, while the association Theys-Heritage works for its valorisation.

The frescoes, described as "unique in the world" for their state of conservation, could have been used to educate a young knight, according to experts. Their discovery in 1853, and their identification by Philippe Walter in 1994, revealed an unknown artistic treasure, linked to the oral dissemination of arthurian accounts by the menestrels. Today closed to the public, the Châtel embodies an exceptional medieval heritage, combining local history and Arthurian legend.

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