Initial construction XIVe siècle (≈ 1450)
Presumed period of foundation of the castle.
XVe siècle
Major changes
Major changes XVe siècle (≈ 1550)
Attested extension or development work.
XVIIe siècle
Subsequent transformations
Subsequent transformations XVIIe siècle (≈ 1750)
Last mentioned construction period.
29 juillet 1977
Registration Historic Monument
Registration Historic Monument 29 juillet 1977 (≈ 1977)
Official protection of the ruins by arrest.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
Château d'Amblerieu (ruines) (Case C 197): inscription by order of 29 July 1977
Key figures
Information non disponible - No character cited
The source text does not mention any historical actors.
Origin and history
The château d'Amblérieu, located in the commune of La Balme-les-Grottes, is a building whose origins date back to the 14th and 15th centuries, with subsequent modifications in the 17th century. The current ruins, protected by an inscription in the title of Historical Monuments since 1977, illustrate the strategic importance of this type of construction in the region throughout the eras. The site is referenced in the Mérimée database under the code INSEE 38026, attached to the department of Isère and to the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region.
In medieval times, castles such as Amblerieu played a central role in the territorial organization, serving as both a defensive fortress, a symbol of seigneurial power and a place of control over the axes of communication. The region, marked by exchanges between the Alpine valleys and the Rhône plains, saw these buildings actively participate in the social and economic structuring of local communities. Their decline, often linked to the evolution of military techniques or political transformations, has led many of them to the state of ruins, as this monument now shows.
The inscription of the castle of Amblérieu in 1977 underlines its heritage value, although the available sources do not specify the architectural details or the specific historical events that took place there. The location, noted as approximate with an accuracy considered fair (level 5/10), and the lack of data on its current accessibility or contemporary uses (visits, accommodation) limit practical information. The GPS coordinates and postal address (5027 Grand Pre d'Amblerieu) allow the site to be located in its geographical environment.
