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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Château de Montfort, located in La Colle-sur-Loup, finds its origins in the 13th century as a feudal fortress. In 1230 it belonged to Romée de Villeneuve, the great Sénéchal of Provence and builder of the first castle of Villeneuve-Loubet. This strategic site was then transformed over the centuries, becoming a symbol of local power and an aristocratic place of residence.

At the beginning of the 16th century, the castle was acquired by Jean-Antoine II de Lascaris, Count of Tende and of Vintimille, who offered it as a dowry to his daughter Anne Lascaris during his marriage with René de Savoie, dit le Grand Bâtard de Savoie. The latter, illegitimate son legitimized and then deposed from Philip II of Savoy, rebuilt him around 1523 as a hunting relay. The Renaissance façade, the hall of honour decorated with René's weapons, and a staircase with screws testify to this transformation. A plate dated 1523 evokes its cynegetic use.

The castle became a place of power under François I, who named René de Savoie governor of Provence in 1515. After his death at the Battle of Pavie (1525), his son Claude de Savoie inherited the estate. In 1538 he received François I during the negotiations for the peace of Nice, marking the diplomatic importance of the site. The castle retained its prestige until its sale in 1994 to industrialist Gustave Ecrepont, and in 1995 to watchmaker Séverin Wunderman.

Séverin Wunderman, owner of the brand Corum and collector of Jean Cocteau, undertook a major renovation. He exhibited his collection of Cocteau's works in the twelve rooms and built a pool designed by the artist. After his death in 2008, part of his collection was bequeathed to the Musée Jean-Cocteau de Menton. The castle, still privately owned, now combines historical heritage and artistic heritage.

Ranked a historic monument in 1969, the Château de Montfort illustrates the architectural evolution of the Alpes-Maritimes, from the Middle Ages to the Renaissance, as well as its role in the political and cultural history of Provence. Its protected elements include the façade, the hall of honour, and the frescoes of the chapel, which bear witness to its prestigious past.

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