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Origin and history

The Château delphinal de Crémieu, also known as Château Saint-Laurent, is a castle built in the 12th century on the hill Saint-Laurent, overlooking the medieval village of Crémieu, in the department of Isère. It was rebuilt in 1282 by the Barons of La Tour and the dolphins of Vienna, and was partially restored in the 1930s. The site, today private property, is not visited, but an accessible square offers a panoramic view of the city and the hill of Saint-Hippolyte.

From the 13th century castle, there remains a round tower with merlons, a wall on the south and west side, as well as the chapel with its bell tower. A 13th century trilobed bay is preserved on the south elevation, based on the rock. The castle, mentioned as early as 1222, initially consisted of a dungeon, two towers, a body of houses and about twenty daucharts. Abandoned after the 16th century, it served as a career for the visitandines in 1644, before being partially restored in 1904 by architect Boyer, who added a neo-medieval building.

The castle is listed as historical monuments by order of 14 April 1943. Its city-side parapet, with a crenelage added to the 20th century, and its remains testify to its strategic importance in the defence of Crémieu. The visit minutes from 1513 on point out its gradual deterioration, despite the occasional restorations like that of the chapel in 1633.

Today, the Delphinal Castle remains a symbol of the medieval heritage of Isère, although its access is restricted. Its architecture combines defensive elements (premises, towers) and religious elements (Saint Lawrence Chapel), reflecting its historical role both military and spiritual in the region.

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