Château de Virieu

Val-de-Virieu

A living château, in the same family for eight centuries, where the royal cannons still sleep in the courtyard.

The Château de Virieu has its roots in a motte-and-bailey castle of the early 11th century, raised by Wilfrid de Virieu, before giving way to stone construction in the 12th century. In 1220, it passed by marriage to the house of Clermont, which kept it for seven generations, before its sale in 1573 to Artus Prunier de Saint-André, first president of the Parlement of Grenoble. King Louis XIII stayed here in 1622, leaving behind mountain cannons brought back from the siege of Montpellier, still to be seen in the gallery of the courtyard. Bought back in 1874 by Alphonse de Virieu, the château underwent a major restoration between 1924 and 1928 at the instigation of the Marquis Henri de Virieu.

Getting there : Château registered in its entirety as a monument historique (facades, roofs, main courtyard, entrance towers, terraces, dovecote); open to visitors, with costumed and musical events; formal French garden restored. Approximate coordinates (centre of the village of Virieu).

Opening times and access details are given as a guide only: check before you set out.

Ambient sound