First entry 1289 (≈ 1289)
Strong house quoted in the texts.
1355
Savoie-Dauphine border
Savoie-Dauphine border 1355 (≈ 1355)
The Rhône becomes a political limit.
1638–1664
Construction of Castle Nine
Construction of Castle Nine 1638–1664 (≈ 1651)
Gradual abandonment of the Old Castle.
vers 1840
Partial restoration
Partial restoration vers 1840 (≈ 1840)
Work on the guard corps.
2012
Partial registration
Partial registration 2012 (≈ 2012)
Pigeon and adjacent protected elements.
2017
Total classification
Total classification 2017 (≈ 2017)
Castle and plot AC13 classified.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
In total, the castle known as Château-Vieux, as well as its seat plot n°13, as indicated in red on the plan annexed to the decree (cad. AC, n°13): classification by order of 22 March 2017. The dovecote and the four houses, the medieval fence wall that delimits the estate and the cadastral plots AC 12, 14, 19 to 21 and AB 49 to 54, all the masonry elements of the estate, with the exception of the buildings classified: inscription by order of 26 October 2012
Key figures
Information non disponible - No name cited
The source text does not mention any characters.
Origin and history
Château Vieux de Vertrieu was first mentioned in 1289 as a strong house. Located on the banks of the Rhône River, it is part of a network of fortresses marking the border between Savoy and Dauphiné after 1355, when the river becomes a political boundary. This strategic role reflects the regional tensions of the medieval era, where castles were used to control communication routes and assert local power.
Between the 13th and 15th centuries, the castle underwent modifications, but its decline began in the 17th century. In 1638–64, the construction of Château Neuf on the banks of the Rhône made the old building obsolete, leading to its abandonment. Only partial restoration works, such as those carried out around 1840 on the guard body of the lower court, preserve certain parts, while the rest is preserved in romantic ruins, illustrating the taste of the nineteenth century for medieval remains.
Ranked as a Historic Monument in 2017 for its whole (Cadastral Park AC13), the Château Vieux also includes elements protected by registration since 2012: the pigeon house, four houses, a medieval fence wall, and adjacent plots. These protections underline its heritage importance, despite its partial state. The site, now partly accessible, bears witness to the architectural and political transformations of the region between the Middle Ages and the modern era.
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