Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Magnans Castle is a hotel residence built between 1903 and 1914 by Louis Fortoul, a merchant who made a fortune in Mexico. Located at the exit of Jausiers on the road to the Col de la Bonette, this fantastic Gothic castle recalls Bavarian architecture, with a square tower, a crenellated turret and carved balconies. Its name evokes the ancient activity of silk in the valley of Ubaye, abandoned after the emigration of Barcelonets to Mexico.

Louis Fortoul, founder of the department store Las Fábricas de Francia in Guadalajara, returned to Jausiers after 1863 and built this castle on a 2 hectare estate. When he died without an heir, the building became a hotel. In 1964, the Caisse d'Insurance Maladie de Marseille transformed it into a residence for its employees, removing some of its original decorations. Made for sale in 1999, it was purchased by an entrepreneur and then by an Indian spiritual master before being restored in 2007.

Ranked a historic monument in 1986 for its facades and exterior staircase, the castle incorporates remarkable artistic elements: a stained glass window signed by Louis Balmet (master-glass-Grenoblois), terracotta sculptures attributed to Clodion, and a monumental glass window illuminating the stairwell. The Swiss-Italian architect B. Ramelli directs the construction, mixing medieval styles and rock. After 18 months of work, the site reopens in 2007 as a 300-seat hotel residence, including an aqualudic space.

The castle illustrates the history of the Barcelonets, these Ubayan families went to seek fortune in Mexico in the 19th century. The Fortoul silk factory, closed in 1863, employed up to 210 people before its decline. Today, Magnans Castle remains the largest tourist establishment in the valley, symbol of a heritage linked to emigration and local industry.

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