Sarre Royal Castle

In 1869 King Victor Emmanuel II bought the castle of Sarre, a few kilometres west of Aosta. He was a keen hunter. He frequented the nearby mountains, where he hunted ibex and chamois. The building became a residence of the House of Savoy. It has been known as the “royal castle” ever since.

An 18th-century building

The present castle was built at the beginning of the 18th century, on the site of an older medieval castle. Its architecture is plain, as was often the case with residences of that time. A central tower rises in the middle, between two wings.

The building has never stopped changing. The most important works date from the 19th century, when the House of Savoy modernised the interior and laid out the gardens that surround the property.

Horns by the hundred

Inside, the memory of the Savoy family is everywhere. What strikes you first are the hunting trophies. Ibex and chamois horns cover the walls of the gallery and the great drawing room. They recall Victor Emmanuel II’s passion for mountain hunting.

Paintings depict hunting scenes and landscapes of the region. Period furniture completes the decoration of the royal apartments.

The gardens and the terrace

The gardens were laid out in the 19th century in the English landscape style. Paths wind through them between the lawns and trees. From the terraces the view opens onto the central valley and the mountains around it.

A museum of the Savoys

The castle is now a museum. Its permanent exhibition tells the story of the place and of its royal occupants. Temporary exhibitions are added over the course of the year. Researchers, history enthusiasts and the simply curious will find plenty there to learn more about the valley’s past.