サンレミアンボスの洞窟・トップ8

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

The origins of Introd Castle date back to the 12th century. It was built according to a simple structure with a square central keep surrounded by a fence. Pierre Sarriod d'Introd had it enlarged in 1260, followed by subsequent modifications in the 15th century that rounded off the castle. Two fires, the first in the second half of the 19th century and the second in the early 20th century, made restoration work necessary. 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 made entirely of wood and has two splendid wrought iron gates. Nearby is the stable called Ôla. Today, the 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 each representing a different tree, above which is trompe l'oeil wallpaper.

The Château Verdun is a medieval fortress located at an altitude of 1,350 metres above sea level in the commune of Saint-Oyen, in the Valle d’Aosta region. The castle is owned by the canons of the Grand Saint Bernard and has served as a guest house for nine centuries. The architecture of the Château Verdun is square and massive. It was originally built in the 10th and 11th centuries and is located on the road to the village of Flassin. Although it is lower than the main road of the village, it still occupies a prominent position at 1,350 metres above sea level. The castle was originally given to the monks of the Hospice du Grand-Saint-Bernard by Amédée III in 1137. It served as an agricultural annex to the hospice and as a resting place for travellers and pilgrims.

Located in the hamlet of Écours in the municipality of La Salle

Recent studies have shown that the castle was built in its current appearance around 1275, although the toponym Castrum Argenteum appears as early as 1176. The castle is accessible on foot, in a quarter of an hour, from the small road that starts from the bridge over the Dora Baltea in the town center of Villeneuve.

Positioned north of the capital, along the road that leads to the hilly villages, the massive square tower of Ecours castle is the only remnant of the 13th century construction, together with a short stretch of the ancient surrounding wall. The building, which once belonged to the Lescours (De Curiis) family, among the most eminent of the Valdigne in the Middle Ages, was half enfeoffed to the nobles of Chatelard already in 1430. In 1551, the castle passed into the hands of the Bozel and subsequently, again in the 16th century, it became co-lordship of the Gal and the Malliet. In the following century, the fiefdom was reunited by the Passerins, who were still its owners in 1730.

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.

Small castle with frescoed chapel