Château du Châtelard en Savoie

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Origin and history

The château du Châtelard, built in the 11th century, was a seigneurial center and then a marquisat in 1639. Located 825 metres above sea level on a rocky spur of the Bauges massif, it controlled a strategic point between the lakes of Annecy and Bourget, as well as the Isère valley. Its location made it a "natural fortress", accessible only by a few passes, and its role as a road lock reinforced its military importance.

The site was said to have housed an allobrogic fortress, as evidenced by an eburonic coin discovered on the spot. 19th-century excavations revealed Roman coins, suggesting an ancient occupation. The castle became a major stronghold of Savoy's house alongside Montmélian, serving as a residence for Counts like Thomas I. He was besieged and rebuilt twice (1305 and 1324) during the conflicts between Savoy and Dauphiné.

In the 15th century, the castle was infused and then bought by the Dukes of Savoy. In 1511 Charles III sold it to François de Luxembourg, before Emmanuel-Philibert recovered it in 1572. Transformed into a marquisat in 1619 for Sigismund d'Est, he then passed to Savoie-Carignan and then to the families of Lescheraines, Noyer and d'Aviernoz. As early as 1698, only ruins remained, with vestiges of enclosure and a semicircular tower still visible today.

The castle housed a châtellenie covering about ten parishes, such as Aillon, Doucy or École, and was managed by chestnuts appointed by the Counts of Savoie. The Châtellenie accounts, held since 1270, reveal its administrative and fiscal role. In the 14th century, it was divided into two mestralies (Le Châtelard and Lescheraines), reflecting its complex territorial organization.

Archaeological excavations, including those of INRAP in 2007, revealed a treasure of 21 Gaulish coins, Roman imperial coins and a statuette of Mercury. These discoveries confirm the multisacular occupation of the site, from the Allobroges to the medieval era. Today, only scattered remains remain, including a rock-cut staircase and fragments of walls drowned in vegetation.

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