Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Château de Marclaz is a strong house built at the end of the 15th century in the same hamlet, on the town of Thonon-les-Bains (Haute-Savoie). Located 4 km southwest of the city, on the left bank of the Pamphiot, it strategically controlled the road to Geneva. This two-storey quadrangular building, flanked by a round tower with a pepper roof, illustrates the Savoyard defensive architecture of the time. It was the centre of the seigneury of Charmoisy and Marclaz, bringing together the territories of Lauzenettaz, Dursilly, Anthy and Corzent.

The strong house changed hands several times through marriage alliances. In 1515 she passed to the Vidomne of Chaumont through the marriage of Gasparde de Ravais, founding the branch of the Vidomne of Charmoisy. Ravaged in 1589 during the war between the Duke of Savoie Charles-Emmanuel in Geneva and France, it was restored before welcoming Saint Francis de Sales, close to Louise du Châtel, wife of Claude de Vidomne in 1600. The latter stayed there on several occasions, as evidenced by his correspondence Introduction to Devote Life.

In the 17th century, the seigneury became a marquisate under Victor-Amédée de Mareschal de La Valdisère (1671), before his descendant, Henri de Mareschal, built a new sumptuous castle, leading him to ruin. In 1795 Josepthe de Seyssel-la-Charniaz inherited the estate and her husband, the knight Carron, demolished the Marquisal castle to build a more modest residence. The site, transmitted by successive inheritances, was finally listed as historical monuments on 12 July 1995.

Today, the estate preserves the 16th century strong house, characterized by its sill windows and cannon tree at the base of the tower, as well as the residence built by the knight Carron. The castle of Marclaz thus embodies almost five centuries of Savoyard history, between military conflicts, seigneurial life and architectural transformations.

External links