Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

Château Neuf de Vertrieu was built in the middle of the seventeenth century by the family La Poype-Vertrieux, local lords, to replace their old castle in ruins (of which remains the remains called "Old Castle"). Located on the left bank of the Rhône in Vertrieu (Isère), it embodies the seigneurial architecture of the period, with four corner towers and a monumental gate opening onto a paved driveway. The estate, directly bordering the river, includes communes and a nearby church.

In 1712, the castle was restored under the direction of the Lyon architect Claude Perret, who also designed the park. The latter, structured in terraces, gardens and groves, mixes regular gardens with French and landscaped spaces. At the beginning of the 20th century, the house body was enlarged, partially modernizing the whole. The murals of the 17th and 19th centuries, especially in the smoking room and a bedroom on the first floor, testify to its rich interior decor.

Ranked and protected since the 1990s, the castle was listed as a historical monument in 1991 (buildings, park, gate) and then classified in 1993 for its murals. Although the interior remains private, the restored park and gardens, offering exceptional views of the Rhône, are open to the public. The ensemble illustrates the evolution of a seigneurial residence in a heritage domain, between classical heritage and contemporary adaptations.

The estate is organized around remarkable elements: a vegetable garden divided between a tennis court (installed in the 20th century) and remodeled platforms in 2017, as well as a garden in three terraces planted with lime trees and groves. The lower terrace, extended for 200 metres along the Rhône River, visually connects the castle to the river, highlighting its strategic location. Close to the old national road 75 (now RD 1075), the site remains accessible from the historic axes between Bourg-en-Bresse and Grenoble.

The remains of the "Old Castle", dominating the site, recall the old medieval fortress, while the Château Neuf symbolizes the transition to a pleasant residence. The communes, intercalated between the village and the castle, and the monumental church-side portal, integrate the whole into its rural environment. Recent restorations (parterlands, central basin) preserve this heritage while adapting to contemporary uses, such as public walk or cultural events.

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