Castello di Montmayeur

The castle dominates from above the entrance to the Valgrisenche on the right bank of the Dora. Reduced to ruins, it can still be visited: it can only be reached on foot by taking a path that starts from the village of Grand-Haury. In the nineteenth century, it deserved the nickname of vulture's nest due to its inaccessible position. From the castle the rock climbing wall of la Ravoire opens up. It was built in the thirteenth century by the family of the counts of Montmayeur.According to a legend, around 1450 a count of Montmayeur who, in a quarrel with a cousin, had been found guilty by the court of Chambéry, invited the president of the jury of the Guy de Feissigny court, and as soon as he arrived at his home he had him beheaded. The president's head was then delivered to the Chambery judges, as a "document that was missing from the trial". To escape capture, the Count of Montmayeur would have fled to the mountains and would have therefore built the fortress of Montmayeur.

A bit dirty but surrounded by nature!

From the lithological point of view, the rock on which Arvier castle stands is a gray albic-like mica schist, with a brownish patina and characterized by the presence of chlorite and quartz veins: originating from deposits of debris that present volcanic material, it has alpine metamorphism. In the nineteenth century, it deserved the name of vulture nest for its impervious position. From the castle, the Ravoire rock gym offers a view. According to a legend, around 1450 a count of Montmayeur who, in dispute with a cousin, had been found guilty by the court of Chambéry, invited the president of the jury of the court Guy de Feissigny with a pretext, and as soon as he arrived at his home he did it beheaded. The head of the president was then delivered to the judges of Chambery as a "document missing from the trial". To escape capture, the Count of Montmayeur would have fled to the mountains and therefore had the fortress of Montmayeur built.

To be seen!!!

Nice to visit