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Origin and history

The Châtelard Castle, located in Montagnieu in the Isère department, has its origins in the 13th century as a fortified house. It was renovated as a castle between the second half of the 14th century and the first half of the 17th century. Dominating two combs, he served as an advanced post to defend the city of La Tour-du-Pin against invasions from the Hen Valley. Its medieval name, domus fortis capella de Castellario, evokes both its defensive function and the presence of a chapel.

In the 15th century, the castle belonged to Claude de Lay, a member of an old family of La Tour-du-Pin. In the 17th century, the estate, then royal property, was sold to Jean Baptiste de la Porte, lord of Boczosel, on August 28, 1638. He later passed into the hands of several families, including the Miolans in 1684 following a marriage. In 1885 Bellecombe's family became its owner, and one of its descendants, Henri de Bellecombe, was still its current owner.

Architecturally, the castle consists of two courtyards: a lower courtyard to the south and a high courtyard surrounded by walls and circular towers. The house, built in the 17th century, has a symmetry marked around a monumental door leading to a vaulted passage. Thirteenth-century elements remain, such as a wall section and a tower, while the dungeon and enclosure walls date back to the 15th century. The roof, covered with scaffold tiles, is pierced with skylights.

Although partially classified as historical monuments since 30 January 1989 (facades, roofs, remains of the enclosure and entrance pavilion), the castle remains a private property. Exceptionally, visits were organized during the European Heritage Days in 2019, offering rare access to this site usually closed to the public.

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