博物馆 Castle of Allymes

Two rival twin sisters

Firstly an earth and timber fort, the fortress of Allymes is a medieval building erected by the Count of Viennois, the Dauphin from 1305. It was built at an altitude of 630 meters on the Allymes Mount in the current area of the city of Ambérieu-en-Bugey. A similar fort was erected at the same time by the Count of Savoy on the Mount Luisandre at an altitude of 800 meters just in front of the Allymes. The major issues were the control of the border between Savoy and Dauphiné and the supervision of the merchants from the Republic of Genoa going to the fairs of Paris and Chalon-en-Champagne. They were following a route through the valley between Belley and Ambérieu called "Cluse des Hôpitaux" and had to take an alternative path through the mountains to join the abbey of Ambronay from Saint-Rambert-en-Bugey via the pass of Brey-de-Vent. During 20 years, the two opponents stared at each other until the Castle of Saint-Germain was caught by the Savoyards in 1321. In 1335, the castle of Saint-Martin-du-Fresne was traded for the fort of Allymes that became savoyard. In 1355, the war between Savoy and Dauphiné ended and the place became a seigneurie.

The headquarters of a seigneurie

In 1354, the Count of Savoy submitted the seigneurie to one of his treasurers, Sir Nicod François. In 1477, one of his heiresses, Lady Claudine François, married Humbert de Lucinge and gave the castle to her husband as dowry. One of their descendants, René de Lucinge is one of the most famous lords of this castle. René de Lucinge was first an ambassador for the Duke of Savoy but he became notorious as one of the signatories of the Treaty of Lyon in 1601. This treaty approved the unification of the lands of Ain to France. Unfortunately considered as a betrayer by his Duke, he was punished and became poorer and poorer. His sons were forced to sell the castle. From the middle of the 17th century to the 19th century, the castle would experience three different families as owners. However, the castle was not a residence and was just maintained by peasant families.

A preserved romantic ruin

In the middle of the 19th century, the building was abandoned and partially ruined. Its then owner, Adolphe de Tricaud, from a wealthy noble family, began to restore the castle circa 1860. He did a complete restoration and put some frameworks over the towers and the parapet walk. Even though he decided, according to his taste, to create a medieval-like bedroom in the keep, the castle didn't become a residence and was only inhabited by a couple of farmers in charge of holding the surroundings. In 1960, an antiquarian bought the castle and a society was created in order to preserve the building. This same year, the castle was listed as a Historical Monument and was open to visitors. The building became the property of the city of Ambérieu in 1984. A new restoration was initiated at the end of 2016 and ended in Fall 2020. It was funded by public financiers, sponsors and entrance tickets.

To get more information, please visit our website : Château des Allymes website