Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

The Château de Villeneuve-Loubet was built between 1231 and 1234 by Romée de Villeneuve, great servant of the Counts of Provence, on a hill overlooking the Var. This strategic site, probably occupied by a castrum in the 11th century, became the heart of a new village created ex nihilo after the reconquest of Nice in 1229. Romée set up a fortress to control the region, rewarded by land offered by Raimond Bérenger V. The castle, sold in 1251 to cover its debts, became a fief comtal while remaining linked to the family of Villeneuve, lords of Vence.

In the 15th century, the castle passed into the hands of the Lascaris, Counts of Tende, then the Grimaldi by alliance. Honoré Lascaris installed settlers in Tende to repopulate Villeneuve in 1460. At the beginning of the 16th century, René de Savoie (spouse of Anne Lascaris) undertook a major transformation: the medieval dungeon was preserved, but the other buildings were renovated in the Renaissance style (completed in 1533), and a second fortified enclosure was added between 1516 and 1530, decorated with its weapons. The castle even welcomed Charles Quint in 1536 and François I in 1538 during the truce of Nice.

After centuries of transmission between noble families (Savoie, Mayenne, Bouthillier), the castle was acquired in 1678 by the Thomas de La Garde, presidents of the Parliament of Provence. After becoming a marquisat in the 18th century, he escaped destruction during the Revolution by serving as a military hospital. Damaged by an earthquake in 1887 and the bombings of 1944, it was restored several times. Today, its park, ramparts and inner courtyard, inscribed in historical monuments since 1986, bear witness to its 800 years of history, between medieval power and reborn fascists.

External links