Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The château de Crolles, also known as château de Bernis, is a former fortified house built in 1340 by Amblard de Beaumont, located in the centre of Crolles (Isère). Transformed in the 15th, 17th and 18th centuries, it preserves defensive elements like two round towers, while integrating refined interior decorations: a large gallery with a French ceiling, paintings from the 17th century, and a lounge with 18th century woodwork. The building, partially classified as a Historical Monument in 1965, illustrates the architectural evolution between the Middle Ages and the modern era.

In the 17th century, the château was profoundly redesigned by Claude Frère, the first President of the Parliament of Dauphiné, who added the gallery decorated with paintings and a small living room with woodwork. The estate welcomed two kings of France: Henry IV in 1600, then Louis XIII accompanied by Cardinal de Richelieu in 1639. He offered his portrait to the chestnut family, still kept there. Since 1810, the property belongs to the family of Bernis, who gave it its current name.

The chapel of the castle, consecrated in 1673 by the Bishop of Grenoble Monsignor Étienne Le Camus, houses a painted vault representing Christ, the Virgin and the Four Evangelists. The episcopal seal is engraved in the stone of the altar. Although located near the historic road of Gresivaudan (now RD 1090), the castle remains a private residence, closed to the public. Its architecture thus combines medieval heritage and fascists of classical centuries, testifying to the history of Dauphin.

The elements protected by the 1965 inscription include facades, roofs, the large gallery and the 18th century woodwork salon. The estate, accessible via the bus line G3 (stop "Mayie"), is located in an urban area of Crolles, near Grenoble and Chambéry. Its history reflects the political and cultural transformations of the Dauphiné, between defensive stronghold and remains disparate.

The interior decorations, such as the embroidered canvases of the bedroom or the 17th century paintings representing the castle and its French gardens, underline the prestige of its successive owners. Despite its role in welcoming sovereigns, the château de Crolles is today a discreet testimony of the Iserois heritage, preserved by its private residential vocation.

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