Top 15 Castles around Cogne

Seen only from the outside, very very beautiful!

Now the castle is no longer owned by the Caracciolo family but has been purchased by the Autonomous Region of Aosta valley.

The origin of Introd Castle dates back to the 12th century. It was built with a simple structure with a square central keep surrounded by an enclosure. Pierre Sarriod d'Introd enlarged it in 1260, followed by subsequent modifications in the 15th century that completed the castle. Two fires, the first in the second half of the 19th century and the second in the early 20th century, necessitated restoration work. In the latter case, they were completed by architect Jean Chevalley and commissioned by the then owner, knight Gonnella. Opposite the castle is a Renaissance-style attic. It is entirely made of wood and has two magnificent wrought-iron gates. Nearby is the stable called Ôla. Today, Introd Castle is owned by the counts Caracciolo of Brienza and is managed by the Grand-Paradis Foundation 1. The living room is decorated with frescoes. Near the ceiling are scenes depicting a different tree each, above which is trompe l'oeil wallpaper.

Nice gravel easy paths close to the castle

The current castle was built on the remains of an earlier fortified dwelling. The feudal estate of Saint-Marcel was originally dependent on the nearby castle of Ussel. Both estates were in the hands of the powerful Challant family. The castle was originally built in the 15th century by Giacomo di Challant-Aymavilles. It had a fundamentally square shape as a castle-residence, with an added rectangular western part for extra living space. A square tower dominated the structure, while two turrets with projecting battlements adorned the corners, similar to those of the castle of Ussel. Inside, the halls were covered with wooden ceilings, and some still contain remnants of large fireplaces.

The Torre dei Balivi, also known as Tour du bailliage, is one of Aosta's medieval architectural treasures. The tower, also known as Tour Cornière in French, was mentioned as early as 1192. In the 12th century it became the property of the local noble family De Palais (or De Palacio), who used it for their own purposes. Later, in the 13th century, it was transferred to the Count of Savoy and served as the seat of the bailiff (in old French, Bailly). The tower was expanded and remodeled in the 15th and 16th centuries, with new parts added to meet growing needs. In the 17th century it was used as a prison and courthouse. Since 2014, the tower has housed the Istituto Musicale Pareggiato della Valle d'Aosta.

The Aymavilles castle, located on a moraine hill and surrounded by meadows and vineyards, dominates the course of the Dora Baltea and the strategic and commercial route that led to the Alpine passes including the Piccolo San Bernardo. Its history is very ancient, in a papal bull of 1207 it appears as a simple tower or stronghold belonging to the assets of the canons of Saint Gilles. This fortification subsequently underwent numerous transformations thanks to the illustrious owners who followed one another over time, starting from 1360, when the Savoys enfeoffed the jurisdiction to Aimone di Challant. The castle is easily recognizable for its original but elegant structure characterized by eighteenth-century stuccoes, loggias and coats of arms. The exterior is refined by the presence of a vast park with a fountain, from which you can enjoy a spectacular view of the entire valley floor.

The castle of Introd stands on a promontory protected by the rugged gorges of the Savara torrent and the Dora di Rhêmes (the name of Introd, in fact, derives from "entre-eaux", or "between the waters") and probably dates back to the 12th century; like Graines Castle, it originally probably consisted of a square keep surrounded by a wall. After numerous fires and subsequent restoration, today it is open to visits and special events.