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Château de la Cueille dans l'Ain

Ain

Château de la Cueille

    45 Sur la Roche
    01450 Poncin

Timeline

Moyen Âge central
Bas Moyen Âge
Renaissance
Temps modernes
Révolution/Empire
XIXe siècle
Époque contemporaine
1300
1400
1500
1600
1700
1800
1900
2000
1299
Sale in Humbert de Luyrieux
XIIIe siècle
First quote
vers 1500
Wedding of Phillippa-Françoise de Luyrieu
XIVe–XVe siècles
Construction of dungeon
1860
Restoration by Chavent
1947
Wedding of Philippe de Gaulle
2021
Acquisition by the Poret family
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui

Key figures

Humbert de Luyrieux - Lord and purchaser (1299) Acheta the Château aux Coligny
Phillippa-Françoise de Luyrieu - Last heir Transfer the castle to dowry
François Mareschal - Lord of Meximieux Spouse of Phillippa-Françoise circa 1500
Joachim Chavent - Owner-restaurant (XIXe) Work began around 1860
Henriette de Montalembert - Resident in 1947 Wife of Philippe de Gaulle
Philippe de Gaulle - Son of the General Married to Poncin in 1947

Origin and history

The castle of La Cueille, mentioned from the 13th century under the names La Cuolly or La Cuyllie, is an old strong house (domus de Cuoli) located on a rocky spur overlooking the river d-Ain of 70 meters. This strategic site controlled river traffic between Bresse and Bugey, including the transport of fir rafts to Lyon and the Mediterranean. The castle was accompanied by a wine village (AOC Cerdon) and a Gothic chapel, reinforcing its local importance.

Originally, the castle belonged to a member of the Coligny family before being sold in 1299 to Humbert de Luyrieux, who placed it under the protection of the Sires of Thoire-Villars, nicknamed the "kings of the Mountains". The family of Luyrieux preserved La Cueille until the beginning of the 16th century, when it passed by alliance to the Mareschals, then successively to the Chamber, La Poype de Granet, and Quinson. The oldest parts (XIVth-15th centuries), like the square dungeon decorated with coats of arms, are attributed to them.

In the 19th century, the castle was restored by Joachim Chavent (circa 1860), with the help of architects Giroud and Savy, before passing to Seyssel, then to Montalembert. A notable event took place in 1947: the marriage to Poncin de Philippe de Gaulle, son of the general, with Henriette de Montalembert, then resident of the castle. Since 2021, the Poret family has been restoring it for a future public opening.

Architecturally, the castle adopts a triangular plan of about 65 meters per side, once girded by seven towers (two of which remain today). The donjon, dated from the 14th century, houses a dogive vault and heated by a large fireplace. In the 18th century, the courtyard was flattened to create a terrace with views of the valley, while wine outbuildings were added in the 19th century to the location of the old ditches.

External links