Symbol of the Middle Ages, the Castle of Fénis is one of the best examples of military and civil architecture of the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries, its history has known the pomp and ruin and today, restored, you can visit it through guided tours and accompanied by local tour guides: is an interesting destination for everyone, families, adult groups and school classes.
History of the Castle of Fénis
The Castle of Fénis, unlike most castles built in the same period and even later, was not built for war or protection purposes, in fact it is located on a very light hill without any natural defense.
Its greatest peculiarity is precisely in the style that combines the elegance of a noble residence with the features of the fortification, giving rise to a castle with recognizable and particular architecture.
In the past, the castle was first the residence of Viscount Gotofredo II and then the representative seat of the leading members of the Challant family of the Fénis branch who were responsible for building a defense apparatus made of towers and crenellated walls that, together with the refined pictorial decorations, create a combination that returns a truly picturesque image.
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Over the centuries, Fénis Castle underwent further changes, such as when, in the mid-14th century, Aimon of Challant added towers and walls to the existing tower, giving the castle an even more imposing appearance.
In 1716 the castle was ceded to Count Baldassarre Castellar di Saluzzo Paesana whose family had a series of misfortunes to reduce the majestic building to a state of decay and, finally, to total abandonment.
At this point, the castle became a rural house with stables on the ground floor and the barn on the first floor.
It was only in 1895, when Alfredo D’Andrade bought the castle, that the latter returned to shine thanks to a restoration of its most compromised parts: later, it was donated to the State and, to date, is owned by the Autonomous Region of Aosta Valley.
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Structure of the Castle of Fénis
The Château de Fénis has a mighty appearance, thanks mainly to the large towers added at a later date by the Challant family.
Its current structure is the result of all the interventions that have occurred over the centuries, already from the mid-fourteenth century, first by the will of Aimon of Challant and then of his son Boniface who intervened again between the end of the fourteenth century and the beginning of the fifteenth century.
It is an authentic example of a medieval castle surrounded by a double ring of crenellated walls and tall square and cylindrical towers that serve as defensive elements and also represent an era in which the beauty of a building was closely linked to its functionality and the need for defense.
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The central body is pentagon-shaped and the loggia, made of wood, creates a suggestive environment in which to relax: inside, there are works of art and frescoes that tell a distant past.
Visit to the Castle of Fénis
Fénis Castle is a place of great architectural and artistic charm but also rich in history and culture: that’s why it is an attraction for many different people, from school classes to senior groups participating in guided tours.
The guided tours organized by the place include the presence of an official tour guide who will tell you all about the history, curiosities and secrets of the castle: groups can not exceed 25 participants (for security reasons) and the visit lasts about half an hour.
The reservation is free and the entrance has a cost of 9 euro for adults, 7 euro per person for groups of at least 25 people accompanied by a local tourist guide and is free for young people under 25 years.
Video from the Aosta Valley website
Castelli della Valle d’Aosta | Alfredo d’Andrade
Copertina: weekendpremium
