Château de Tournay
Origin of the name Château de Tournay
The origin of the name has not been explained.
Founding of Château de Tournay
The Château de Tournay stands in Pregny-Chambésy, on Genevan territory (route de Pregny). At the end of the 13th century the heart of Pregny was the fief of the d'Anières family, then, a century later and through marriage, of the Genthod family. Today's château is one of the two fortified houses that recall this history. It began as a 15th-century fortified house surrounded by moats. The de Brosses family acquired it in 1583 (or 1573). Genevan troops burned and looted it in 1590, and it was rebuilt after 1601. In 1758 Voltaire obtained it through a lifetime lease that came with the title of count. Sold as émigré property in 1794, it passed to the Panissod family, who kept it until 1915. That year Alfred Baur, a merchant and collector of Asian art, bought it and gave it roughly its present appearance.[1][2][3]
History of Château de Tournay
Late 13th century. The heart of Pregny is the fief of the d'Anières family, one of whose fortified houses is today's Château de Tournay.[2]
14th century. Through marriage the fief passes to the Genthod family.[2]
15th century. The château is a fortified house surrounded by moats.[1][2]
1583. The de Brosses family acquires the château in 1583 (or 1573).[1][3]
1590. Genevan troops burn and loot the château. It escapes destruction only after the castellan agrees to fill in the moats, and its defensive character is reduced at the end of the 16th century.[1][2][3]
1601. The château is rebuilt after this date.[1]
1758. Voltaire obtains Tournay through a lifetime lease that comes with the title of count. He carries out major works and sets up a theatre, which leads to disputes with the Genevan authorities. He called the house the « vieux vilain château ».[1][2][3][4]
1778. After Voltaire's death the château returns to the de Brosses family.
1782. During the unrest in Genève the château serves as headquarters of the Négatifs committee.[1]
1794. Seized as émigré property during the Revolution, the estate is broken up and sold. It then passes to the Panissod family.[1]
1915. Alfred Baur buys the château and has it restored. New moats are dug (1915-1925) and a neoclassical villa is built for him nearby (1915-1918).[1][2][3]
1958. The château is listed as a historic monument by decree of the Council of State of 21 October.[1][3]
2009. The Fondation Baur, owner of the château until then, parts with it. The estate passes into private hands and the château is restored in 2009-2011.[1][2]
Historic sites in Château de Tournay
Château de Tournay. 15th-century fortified house surrounded by moats, altered in the second half of the 18th century under Voltaire, then in 1915-1925 to restore a medieval look; listed in 1958.[1][2][3]
Villa Baur. Two-storey residence with neoclassical touches, built in 1915-1918 for Alfred Baur near the château.[2]
Remains in Château de Tournay
Moats. The moats of the fortified house, filled in during the 19th century, are dug out again during the restoration commissioned by Alfred Baur (1915-1925).[2][3]
Sources
- Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Tournay » (François Burgy), version du 30.05.2012
- Office fédéral de la culture, Inventaire fédéral des sites construits d'importance nationale à protéger en Suisse (ISOS), « Pregny » (2e version, juillet 2019)
- République et canton de Genève, Office du patrimoine et des sites, recensement « Château de Tournay » (route de Pregny 37, fiche 2009-19764)
- Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Voltaire » (Roger Francillon), version du 11.04.2013
- geo.admin.ch, service de recherche de swisstopo (route de Pregny 37, Chambésy, coordonnées)
Other villages near Château de Tournay
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