Châtelard Castle

On a rocky peak above La Salle, a tall round tower can be seen from far away. It is all that really remains of Châtelard Castle. It watches over the Valdigne, on the road that comes down from the Little St Bernard Pass. Around it, the Blanc de Morgex vineyards climb right up to the foot of the rock.

A bishop’s tower

The castle was built between 1230 and 1245 by Rodolphe Grossi, Bishop of Aosta from 1243. He was close to Count Peter II of Savoy, and the round tower of Châtelard does indeed resemble the towers that the count was building at the same period. The first document mentioning the castle dates from 1248. A chapel was added in 1269.

Turbulent centuries

In 1285 the castle was sacked by troops from the Dauphiné. It then changed hands several times. The noble Châtelard family died out in 1691. In 1793, during the invasion by the troops of the French Revolution, much of the castle was destroyed. In 1798 the Léaval family bought it. Today it belongs to the Béneyton family.

What you can see

The tower is about 18 metres high and 5 metres in diameter. It is almost intact. Its door opened ten metres above the ground, so that it could not be forced. Around it, only ruins remain: those of a square building and a double enclosure. From the promontory you can see the Mont Blanc massif, the Crammont and the Grivola.

Seeing it

Châtelard Castle
Hameau Château
11015 La Salle (AO)

The castle is private and cannot be visited. You admire it from outside. The tower is easy to see from the Valdigne road. To get closer, an easy walk starts from Morgex, crosses the stream on a wooden bridge and climbs through meadows, vineyards and woods: about an hour on foot.