Flumet Castle en Savoie

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Origin and history

Flumet Castle, also known as the Faucigny Castle, was a castle built in the 12th century on a rocky mollard overlooking the confluence of the Arly and Arondine, near the town of Flumet in Savoie. It controlled a strategic point at the southern border of the Faucigny seigneury, monitoring access to the Upper Val d'Arly from the Savoy Cove. Its location allowed control of movements between Ugine and the surrounding valleys.

The building of the castle probably dates back to the middle of the 12th century, shortly before the foundation of the fortified village of Flumet, mentioned in 1151 in the act of creation of the Chartreuse du Reposoir. In the 13th century, during the reign of Aymon II of Faucigny, a fortified village settled around the fortress. The first written trace of the castle dates from 1228, when the town obtained a charter of franchises. The site then passed into the hands of the Counts of Savoie after Pierre de Savoie married Agnes de Faucigny in 1234.

Pierre de Savoie, who became Count in 1263, reinforced the castle's defences before that date. The site became the center of one of the nine chestnuts of the bailiwick of Faucigny at the end of the 13th century. In 1339, a delphinal investigation described the castle as organized around a central square tower, a second tower above the entrance, and a enclosure with houses. The Savoie-side wall in the southwest was higher to enhance protection.

The castle fell into ruins in the 15th century. In 1679, after a fire ravaging the town, the inhabitants obtained permission to use its stones to rebuild their houses. Flumet's chestnut, originally ranked 9th in the order of precedence of the Faucigny in the 13th century, has been reorganized several times. During the Delphinal period (1342-1343), she was one of the 15 châtellenies du Faucigny, before becoming a vice-châtellenie of the châtelet du Crédoz.

The Châtelans, officers appointed to manage the châtellenie, collected tax revenues and provided maintenance of the château until the 16th century. Their military role declined after 1355, when Savoy joined the region. In the 17th century, the weapons of Flumet's mandate were blazing "three paux de gules sur gold".

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