Château de Rochefort

Site Canton of Neuchâtel · Region: Littoral · Uninhabited site (municipality of Rochefort)

Part of the municipality of Rochefort

Origin of the name Founding Historical timeline Must-see historical sites Remains Legends Sources and references Nearby villages

Origin of the name Château de Rochefort

The castle gave its name to the locality of Rochefort, recorded in 1184 as « Rupeforti » and in 1236 as « Rochifort ». The castle itself is first mentioned in 1294. The precise etymology is not explained in the sources consulted.

Founding of Château de Rochefort

No building record is known. The castle stands at 832 m above sea level on an exposed hill at the edge of the Gorges de l'Areuse and controlled the road leading to the Val-de-Travers. Humbert de Rochefort, mentioned in 1184, is its first known holder; the lordship stayed with the Rochefort family until 1263, then belonged to the Neuchâtel family from 1278 to 1412. Neolithic sherds and axes and Roman sandal nails found on the site show that the height was frequented long before the castle.

History of Château de Rochefort

Neolithic. Sherds and axes attest to the site being frequented.

Roman period. Roman sandal nails have been found on the site.

1184. Humbert de Rochefort, first known holder of the castle; the lordship stays with the Rochefort family until 1263.

1278-1412. The lordship is in the hands of the Neuchâtel family.

1294. First mention of the castle: Rudolf of Neuchâtel temporarily pledges it to his father-in-law Louis of Savoy.

1368-1373. Major works, perhaps even a partial rebuilding, are undertaken.

1372. By his will, Count Louis of Neuchâtel leaves the castle to his illegitimate sons Jean and Vauthier.

1376-1379. New building works; the castellan pays for stone for the chapel.

1396. Vauthier, who had been deprived of the castle, seizes it for a very short time under the protection of the Duke of Burgundy.

1413. Vauthier, who had forged charters of liberties, is executed on 19 February on the orders of Conrad of Freiburg (the text of the Association des Amis du Château gives the year 1412).

mid-15th century. The castle is abandoned (to be cross-checked).

1512. A text confirms that the castle is in ruins, after a gradual abandonment.

1734. The neighbouring communities are ordered to build an alarm signal on the site of the castle.

1769. The Council of State confirms that the community of Rochefort is to enjoy the whole former castle estate as forest.

1862. After disorderly digging by treasure hunters, pastor James Lardy is authorised to « mettre à découvert les ruines » (uncover the ruins).

1879. Some excavations are carried out and a plan is drawn up by Alphonse de Mandrot.

2013. On 14 March a commemoration of Vauthier's beheading leads to the founding of the Association des Amis du Château de Rochefort, which aims to safeguard the site and open it to the public.

2017. A project to enhance the site is launched.

2018-2019. Two archaeological excavation campaigns.

Historic sites in Château de Rochefort

Castle ruins. Elongated castle on an exposed hill at the edge of the Gorges de l'Areuse, at the entrance to the Val-de-Travers. It is the only castle ruin in the canton of Neuchâtel. Access is free and three information panels present the history of the site. The ruins lie a little over a kilometre west of Chambrelien station.

Remains in Château de Rochefort

Tower and curtain wall. A few metres remain of a tower measuring about 3 m by 4 inside, as well as slight remains of walls of other buildings, notably to the east above the access path. A small hollow to the south suggests a dry moat, and a level area to the north may have formed the courtyard. 14th-century accounts mention a chapel and 15th-century texts a stair turret.

Archaeological finds. The site has yielded Neolithic sherds and axes as well as Roman sandal nails. The masonry was uncovered from 1862 onwards, then excavated in 1879 and during the 2018 and 2019 campaigns.

Legends of Château de Rochefort

The destruction of the castle. Vauthier's tragic end gave rise to a tradition that the castle was destroyed at the time of his execution; the Association des Amis du Château considers it mistaken, since ruin through gradual abandonment is only confirmed in 1512. Another version, reported by the municipality, has it that the castle was burnt by lords annoyed by the behaviour of its occupants (to be cross-checked).

Sources

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