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Origin and history

The fort house of the Villaret was the capital of the eponymous seigneury, located in the hamlet of the Villaret, on the commune of Meyrieux-Trouet (Savoie). In 1907, its remains were still observable, though partially ruined. This monument embodied the local power of a small Savoyard nobility, typical of the strong houses scattered in the region in modern times.

The fief of Villaret changed hands several times during the 16th and 18th centuries. It probably belonged first to the family of Seyssel, then to the Mareste after 1579, before passing to the Bavoz, a local noble branch. In 1630 a member of this family, Lord of Oncieu, lived there. The site was also the setting for aristocratic gatherings, as in 1675, when Laurent de Bavoz, lord of Villaret, attended a meeting of the nobility of the little Bugey for the advent of Duke Victor-Amédée II of Savoy.

In the 18th century, Charles Philibert de Bavoz and his wife, Anne de Saint-Martin, widow of the Sire de Gerbaix were housed in the fortified house. After the French Revolution, the estate belonged to the Dupasquier family, originally from the region. This transfer marked the end of his seigneurial role, reflecting the political upheavals of the time. Historical sources, such as the work of Jean Létanche (1907), document its gradual decline until the beginning of the 20th century.

Architecturally, the Villaret fort house illustrates the Savoyard fortified residence model, designed for both housing and defence. Although its precise characteristics are not detailed in the sources, these buildings played a central role in the local feudal organization, serving as a place of residence, seigneurial management and sometimes as a refuge. Their gradual disappearance over the centuries is explained by the evolution of political and social structures, as well as the abandonment of feudal systems.

Bibliographic references, including the books by Michèle Brocard (1995) and Jean Létanche (1907), highlight the importance of these strong houses in the Savoyard historical landscape. They reflect a time when local nobility had a direct influence on rural areas, before revolutionary reforms radically changed their status and use.

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