Château d'Yvoire, Yvoire, France

Built from 1306 during the village fortification by the Comte de Savoie Amédée V, Yvoire castle had a military goal to watch the navigation and control the road which linked Geneva to the high valley of the Rhône and to Italy.

For several centuries, the village of Yvoire was in the center of several strategic or religious wars between France, Bern, Geneva as well as the houses of Faucigny, Dauphiné and Savoie.

In 1591, a fire devastated the building which only found its shape back in the 20th century, when Félix Bouvier of Yvoire undertook several internal and external renovation works, like the roof and the watch towers setting in 1939.

References:

yvoire-france.com

User Reviews

Joanna Simpson (3 years ago)
We stopped on our way to Annecy and I must say it was a beautiful experience. Spent there about 4 hours wondering around, the 5 sense s garden is a must see when visiting

Erwin Salosagcol (3 years ago)
Quaint chateau by the lake, truly a fairy tale experience not to be missed. It wasn't over the top, and a great example of a medieval chateau. In this small village, the vibe of the local castle truly captures the magic of this hamlet.

Ross Heaney (5 years ago)
Lovely medieval castle on the French side of Lake Geneva. Some lovely spots to take pictures. Can be quite touristy in Yvoire but worth a wander.

Shawn Zents (6 years ago)
What an amazing, very walkable town. Very friendly locals, beautiful shops, and food is incredible. I miss it already!

Melissa Warren-Garcia (6 years ago)
Very charming, even in winter. A lot of shops and restaurants were closed due to it being low season, but we had a nice stroll along the lake side and port.

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Photo from Flickr, copyright Zvonimir Hrvoj

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The beginning of the building of the church was placed to the second half of the 8th century, and it is supposed to have been completed in the 9th century. The Zadar bishop and diplomat Donat (8th and 9th centuries) is credited with the building of the church. He led the representations of the Dalmatian cities to Constantinople and Charles the Great, which is why this church bears slight resemblance to Charlemagne's court chapels, especially the one in Aachen, and also to the Basilica of San Vitale in Ravenna. It belongs to the Pre-Romanesque architectural period.

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Château d'Yvoire

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