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Villages / Valais / Conthey district / Château de Brignon

Château de Brignon

Site Canton of Valais · District: Conthey · Uninhabited site (municipality of Nendaz)
Part of the municipality of Nendaz
Origin of the name Founding Historical timeline Must-see historical sites Remains Sources and references Nearby villages

Origin of the name Château de Brignon

The castle takes its name from the village of Brignon, in the municipality of Nendaz, whose own name remains unexplained.[1]

Founding of Château de Brignon

Count Peter II of Savoy had this castle built at Brignon, in the municipality of Nendaz, to guard the border of his lands on the left bank of the Rhône and to protect the land on the right bank of the Printse. It was essentially a counterpart to the episcopal castle of Montorge, which Peter had razed. The count installed a castellan here. Very few documents mention this fortress, which had only a short life.[1][2][3]

History of Château de Brignon

1260. Petrus, major of Brignon, tries to force the men of Veysonnaz to work on the castle.[2]

Around 1261. Peter II of Savoy has the castle built and installs a castellan.[1][3]

1264. In June, expecting a war with the bishop, Peter orders his quartermaster, master Arnold, to stock his castles in Lower Valais, Brignon among them, with provisions.[2]

1266. Peter II has the fortress destroyed (around 1265, by Bishop Henri de Rarogne, according to another source). The castle does not seem to have been rebuilt, and Brignon returns to the rank of majorie.[1][2]

First half of the 20th century. The first hotel of the municipality is built on the ruins of the old tower.[3]

Until 2014. The Nend'Art association holds two exhibitions a year at the Château de Brignon, under a five-year contract ending in September 2014. With no heating, they take place only in summer.[4]

Historic sites in Château de Brignon

Castle mound. In the Middle Ages a watchtower stood on the mound now occupied by the Château de Brignon restaurant.[3]

Remains in Château de Brignon

Ruins of the castle. The ruins of the Savoyard fortress are still clearly visible.[1][3]

Sources

  1. Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Nendaz » (Pierre Carruzzo), version du 02.11.2010
  2. Lucien Lathion, « Nendaz au moyen âge », communication à l'assemblée de la Société d'histoire du Valais romand, Nendaz, 24 mai 1931, via RERO DOC
  3. Nendaz Tourisme, « Brignon »
  4. Commune de Nendaz, Nendaz Panorama n° 114, avril 2014
  5. geo.admin.ch, recherche de lieux (Brignon)

Other villages near Château de Brignon

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