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Origin and history

The château de Saint-Julien, also known as château de Saint-Jullin, is an ancient 13th century strong house, deeply transformed over the centuries. Located in the department of Isère, on the municipality of Siccieu-Saint-Julien-et-Carisieu, it overlooks the village and the pond of Ry. Originally, this monument belonged to the family of Saint-Jullin before passing, in 1260, to the connetable of Dauphiné Étienne de la Poype, then to his son Guillaume. His history was marked by major changes, especially after the French Revolution, when the Countess of Chaponnay added neo-medieval elements like a dungeon.

In the 18th century, the estate was erected as a county by Louis-Antoine de Saint-Jullin de Granet, then acquired in 1752 by Count Louis Angélique de Disimieu, before passing by inheritance to the De Chaponnay family. Partially destroyed during the Revolution, the castle was restored from 1836 to become a recreational residence and then a holiday centre in the 1960s. Its architecture combines reinterpreted medieval elements (false mâchicoulis, turrets) and 19th century additions, such as a monumental portal and a high central tower.

The castle is organized around a rectangular courtyard, bordered to the north by an entrance body decorated with turrets and mâchicoulis fakes. The main building, with a dissymmetry plan, has a facade flanked by two quadrangular towers and an entrance accessible by an external staircase. The estate also includes a park with fountain, wash and farm attire, reflecting its evolution from a medieval fortress to an aristocratic property, then to a place dedicated to tourism.

Although some sources refer to a stay of King Francis I during the Renaissance, this information remains unconfirmed. On the other hand, its attested history reveals its role in the Dauphin nobility, notably through the families of Saint-Jullin, Disimieu and Chaponnay, which have marked its architecture and vocation over the centuries.

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