Top 9 Castles around Saint-Denis

Bridge over the Dora - view of Ussel Castle: The Castello di Ussel, also known as Castello Baron Gamba, is an impressive medieval castle in the Valle d’Aosta region, Italy. The castle is located on a steep rocky cliff and overlooks the Dora Baltea valley.

Nice gravel easy paths close to the castle

The Castello Gamba, also known as Castello Baron Gamba, is a palazzo of 20th century origins in the town of Châtillon, located on a hill in the western region of the city, near the regional hotel school. Surrounded by a park open to the public all year round, the castle offers spectacular views over the valley. It was built as a summer residence and is named after its owner, the Turin baron Carlo Maurizio Gamba. The building's architecture, influenced by the medieval revival style of the time, includes two symmetrical wings that protrude slightly from the front of the castle. Located on the rocky cliff of Crêt-de-Breil, the castle overlooks the Dora Baltea and was originally built as a declaration of love by Baron Gamba to his beloved wife, Angélique Passerin d'Entrèves, originally from Châtillon. Inside, the castle houses the Museo di Arte Moderna e Contemporanea della Valle d'Aosta, with a permanent exhibition of more than 150 works, including those of the famous Romantic painter J.M. William Turner and other artists of the 19th and 20th centuries.

The carved wooden furniture in this imposing fortress is typical of the Aosta Valley. In the courtyard and in the chapel, frescoes from the Gothic studio of Giacomo Jacquerio depict the lives of the most important saints and those of many sages and philosophers.

Located in the Valle d'Aosta region of Italy, the Castello di Fénis is one of the most famous medieval castles in the region. It attracts visitors with its abundance of towers and battlements. Although it has an impressive defensive structure, it is located on a small hill and not in an inaccessible place. In fact, it was originally intended as a prestigious residence for the Challant family. The courtyard has a semi-circular stone staircase and wooden balconies. At the top of the stairs is a 15th century fresco of Saint George slaying the dragon. The rooms are decorated with wooden furniture from that period.

The current castle was built on the remains of an earlier fortified house. The feudal estate of Saint-Marcel originally depended on the nearby castle of Ussel. Both estates were owned by the powerful Challant family. The castle was originally built in the 15th century by Giacomo di Challant-Aymavilles. It had a basically square shape like a castle residence, with an added rectangular western part for additional living space. A square tower dominated the structure, while two turrets with projecting basins adorned the corners, similar to those of Ussel Castle. Inside, the halls were covered with wooden ceilings, and some still contained remains of large chimneys.

The castle, built no earlier than the 13th century with a rectangular structure, was part of the heritage of the lords of Montjovet. Only later, following the marriage between Ebalo the Great and Alexie of Chenal, did it become the property of the Challant family: in this way, the two families could control the passages on the road between Chenal and the castle of Montjovet. Today, the castle, located along the route of the Via Francigena and the Cammino Balteo, is reduced to a ruin.

Unlike other castles, built for war and protection purposes, Fénis Castle is not located on the top of a promontory, but on a slight hill with no natural defenses. Combining the characteristics of the fortification with those of the noble residence, the castle of Fénis was in fact the prestigious representative seat of the major exponents of the Challant family.