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Origin and history

The house fort du Pin, located in Morancé in the Rhône department, has its origins in the 13th century. It was founded around 1260 by Étienne de la Chana, knight and lord of the Pin, whose family still retained the fief in 1341, as evidenced by the tribute given to Abbé d'Ainay. The cylindrical dungeon, built in 1311, illustrates medieval defensive architecture with its basse-fosse, its room equipped with latrines and fireplace, and a coronation floor remains unfinished. The square enclosure, typical of strong houses, also housed a seigneurial house at the northeast corner.

In the 18th century, the seigneury of the Pin passed to the family of Chaponay, who remained its owner until 1884. The estate then changed hands: purchased by the hospital of Amplepuis in 1908, then transformed into a hotel after its acquisition by an individual in 1975. Today, the strong house belongs to the Ory-Girard family. Only the dungeon, the house corps and the gate gallery, linked to the whole, were listed as historical monuments by order of 19 May 1994.

The building combines medieval elements (donjon, pregnant) with more recent additions, such as 19th century agricultural buildings to the south and west. Its main entrance, preceded by commons and surmounted by a stretcher, reflects its role both defensive and residential. The gable windows of the main house, although partially preserved, recall its status as seigneurial residence. The inner courtyard, framed by these structures, is the heart of the estate.

Historical sources also mention noble families linked to the Pine, such as the Chana (founders) and the Chaponay (owners until the 19th century). These lines illustrate the feudal anchor of the site, marked by vassalic tributes and hereditary transmission. The evolution of the estate, from a military function to hotel use, testifies to its adaptation to successive periods, while preserving remarkable medieval remains.

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