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Origin and history

The Château de Montferrand is an old fortified house built at the end of the 14th century on the town of Lagnieu, in the department of Ain. Its origin could go back to a tower of the fortifications of the village, granted to Aynard de Montferrand. The current construction was authorized in 1471 by Amédée IX, Count of Savoy, who granted Claude de Montferrand seigneurial rights for its construction. This monument illustrates the medieval military architecture of Bugey, with defensive elements now partially disappeared.

At the French Revolution, the castle was sold as a national good and subdivided into lots, resulting in the destruction of towers and major interior transformations. In the 20th century, its fragile roof was replaced in 1974 by a concrete slab covered with sheet metal. Despite these changes, the first floor retains notable Gothic elements, such as two chimneys and dust windows, as well as 17th century ceilings.

The particularity of the castle lies in its murals of the second half of the 16th century, which can be found in a restored room in 2017. These frescoes, by unknown author, depict the marriage of Charles the Teméraire, Duke of Burgundy, with Marguerite of York in 1468. They suggest the participation of members of the Montferrand family in this historic event in Bruges. Today, this room is accessible to the public during visits organized by the municipality, offering a rare testimony of the political and artistic alliances of the time.

Ranked a historic monument since 1990, Montferrand Castle remains a significant example of the urban fortresses of the late Middle Ages in Bugey. Divided into several private properties, it combines architectural heritage and historical traces, while posing conservation challenges for future generations.

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