Allymes castle

For 700 years, a castle has stood sentinel over the Ain plain. It bears witness to a merciless war between the lords of Dauphiné and Savoie, which lasted more than two centuries. In this fortress, set against a breathtaking landscape, you are plunged into history. A little imagination, a little mist and the ghostly silhouette of the fort evokes the days of the knights!

A medieval fortress!

Reaching the château is well worth the effort: its tall silhouette looms overhead, and it takes about ten minutes to walk to the surrounding wall. From the top of the ramparts, 700 years of history await you!

The 14th-century fortress is magnificently preserved: it’s easy to imagine a knight in armour emerging from the main building to enquire about visitors’ intentions. The result of a cordial disagreement between the county of Savoie and the principality of Dauphiné, this advanced position guarded the border with Savoie, where the road to Italy passed – a coveted toll point!

The stronghold was used to keep an eye on the enemy, launch attacks on convoys and defend the border. Its military architecture is striking: an austere quadrilateral flanked by two towers, one square, the keep, the other round, it offers an incredible view over the Ain plain, Bresse and Bugey, and protected its inhabitants from attack. Insecurity reigned in those days. Today, however, you can enjoy the impressive beauty of the site and the incredible view.

When the weather’s clear, there’s a fine view of the Bugey region from the château. A number of hiking itineraries pass by the château, making it an ideal place to stop for a picnic and a cool break.

A journey through time

Walk around the ramparts via the curtain walls to admire the 360° panorama. Outside the 4 ramparts that surround the courtyard and link the keep to the round tower, a remnant of a rampart leads to a watchtower: these fortifications protected the medieval village attached to the castle. Children will be quick to improvise an imaginary bow to discourage the enemy. Here, the defenders watched for movements on the plain and spied on the enemy Savoyard castle on Mont Luisandre, less than a kilometer away.

Inside, we discover the austere environment of a medieval castle: the style is resolutely Gothic, in vogue in the 14th century. The various rooms remind us of the life of the inhabitants of the time.

After the models on the first floor, the upper floors are occupied by exhibitions. Children are sure to love the models of the first castle, and you’ll find it hard to tear them away from the collection of “playmobil” model castles to the delight of young and old alike!

700years

Building the first chateau

650meters

Mount altitude

2,40meters

Wall thickness

7euros

The price of the visit

GOOD TO KNOW

From Savoy to France: the trials and tribulations of an ambassador

Château des Allymes became part of the Savoyard possessions following the signing of the Treaty of Paris, which put an end to the war between Dauphiné and Savoie: Bugey, Bresse and Pays de Gex became Savoyard, while the de Lucinges family became the owner of the seigneury in 1477.

René de Lucinges left his mark on the world and on history: the Seigneur des Allymes was the representative of the Count of Savoy to the King of France, Henri IV. As such, he was the negotiator and architect of the Treaty of Lyon in 1601, which put an end to the rivalry between France and Savoy through an exchange of territory. Bugey, Bresse, Valromey and Pays de Gex became French territory, a fact that Charles Emmanuel I of Savoy would not forgive his ambassador. René de Lucinges returned to his Château des Allymes in Bugey, and thus to France, to escape the Savoyard sovereign’s vindictiveness. The ambassador, a fine scholar and historian, ended his life as a loyal subject of King Henri IV, to whom he paid homage.

Château des Allymes

Elevation : 630m