Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

Le château de Lathuile is a former fortified house in the Haute-Savoie department, in the commune of Lathuile, behind the church of Saint-Ours. Originally the family of Duin de Châteauvieux, vassal of the Counts of Geneva from the 12th century, it passed into the 13th century to the Richard family, then in 1360 to the Sionnaz family by the marriage of Béatrice Richard with Amblard de Sionnaz. This castle became a key place for the Sales family after 1560, when Françoise de Sionnaz, wife of François de Sales, inherited it.

From 1590 onwards, the castle served as the main residence for the Sales family, including the future Saint Francis of Sales. Despite records of ruins as early as 1593, documents attest to its use until the 18th century, as the Sardinian Mappe of 1730 designates it as "Maison du Marquis de Sales". After the Revolution, the property was fragmented: the gardens were acquired by the Dunant family, then transformed into a manor house with a square tower between 1888 and 1890 by Clotilde Dunant and her husband, the painter Firmin Salabert.

In the 20th century, the site changed hands several times. In 1922 the mansion became a hotel, and in 1928 the Dangon family began excavations and restorations. Georges Dangon, Mayor of Latoile, organizes receptions for personalities. In 1970 the castle was sold to Swedes, before knowing several successive owners. Current remains include a square tower, a building body and vaulted basement rooms.

The castle is linked to recent municipal projects, such as a preemptive intention in 1991 and a possible partial expropriation mentioned in 2014 to create parking spaces near the school. These initiatives reflect its local heritage significance, although its current state remains partial.

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