Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

The Château de Guillaumes, called "Château de la Reine Jeanne", is a military building built between 1233 and 1235 by order of the Count of Provence Raimond-Bérenger V. Originally, it consists of a quadrangular dungeon, completed in the 14th century by a central house and circular tower. After the Dédition de Nice à la Savoie in 1388, Guillaumes remained faithful to Provence, becoming a strategic French enclave after the connection of Provence to France in 1481.

In the 16th century, the castle, in a state of disrepair, was restored several times by the inhabitants, although it was a royal square. Between 1693 and 1700, Vauban strengthened his defences by adding a low building with two bastions, a "cornet", while preserving the central home despite its inadaptation to modern wars. In 1734, military engineers considered him unattackable, capable of sheltering 400 soldiers in bomb-proof barracks.

In 1760, after the Treaty of Turin, Guillaumes was assigned to the king of Piedmont-Sardaigne. The castle is partially dismantled, including the additions of Vauban, despite the revolt of the inhabitants. The dungeon collapsed gradually between the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Ranked among the historical monuments in 1931, it benefits from associative restorations around 1990, then from a vast consolidation program between 2019 and 2025, including the restoration of the roof of the circular tower.

An augmented application in reality makes it possible today to visualize the castle before its partial destruction in 1760. Eight geolocation points offer 360° reconstruction of the site and village, accessible via smartphone or tablets provided by the tourist office. This project is part of an approach to valuing local heritage, supported by public and private funding, including the Heritage Lotto.

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