First mention of the castle 1310 (≈ 1310)
Possession of the sires of Gex, vassals of Savoy.
1353
Seat and hold of the castle
Seat and hold of the castle 1353 (≈ 1353)
Conflict between Count Green and Gex.
XVe siècle
Abandonment or probable ruin
Abandonment or probable ruin XVe siècle (≈ 1550)
Decline of the castle mentioned in the sources.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Key figures
Sires de Gex - Owners of the castle
Vassaux of the Counts of Savoie in 1310.
Comte Vert (comte de Savoie) - Belligerant in 1353
Has taken the castle in a siege.
Origin and history
Florimont Castle is an ancient castle mentioned from the beginning of the 14th century, located on a height at 948 meters above sea level, between the "Fountain of Napoleon" and the valley, on the commune of Gex. It overlooks the old road of the Col de la Faucille, in the department of Ain, in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region. Its remains, now in ruins, recall its strategic role in the region.
The castle was first cited in 1310 as possession of the sires of Gex, vassals of the Counts of Savoy. In 1353 he was besieged and caught in a conflict between the Count of Savoy, nicknamed Count Vert, and the seigneury of Gex. These events mark its importance in local feudal struggles. The castle seems to have been abandoned or ruined since the 15th century, although the precise causes of its decline are not detailed.
Architecturally, the castle consists of a quadrangular enclosure surrounding houses, with a rectangular dungeon located in the northeast corner. A circular tower, later added, flanks the southwest corner. The lower court, separated from the upper castle by a ditch, precedes the whole on the ridge. These elements illustrate medieval fortification techniques adapted to the mountainous terrain of the region.
