Château de Miolans

Saint-Pierre-d'Albigny

A fortress-prison whose walls still seem to hold the echo of escapes and of cries from the dungeons.

Perched at an altitude of 550 metres on an isolated spur between Montmélian and Conflans, the Château de Miolans was founded in the 11th century by the powerful family of the same name before becoming, in 1564, the state prison of the Duchy of Savoy. Its 12th-century Saint-Pierre tower and its 13th-century square keep, six storeys high, rank among the most accomplished examples of medieval military architecture in Savoy. The castle served as a prison until 1792 and counted among its famous inmates the Marquis de Sade, who escaped on the night of 30 April to 1 May 1768.

Getting there : Listed as a historic monument; part of the "Pierres fortes de Savoie" cultural route since 1997; open to visitors in season

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

Ambient sound