Château des Bois
Origin of the name Château des Bois
The place name comes from the seigneury of Turrettin, created on this estate in 1631 and also called « Château des Bois ». Why the seigneury received this second name is not known.[1][6]
Founding of Château des Bois
The estate came into being in the early 17th century: François Turrettini, a refugee from Lucca, formed it on the territory of the present municipality of Satigny. In 1631 his son Jean obtained from the Republic of Genève the creation of the land and seigneury of Turrettin, detached from the former episcopal mandement of Peney. Part of the territory of Peney was thus enfeoffed to the Turrettini family. A « château de plaisance », or « maison haute à l'italienne », was built there in the 17th century. Through marriage the château later passed from the Turrettini to the van Berchem family.[1][2][3][7]
History of Château des Bois
1575. On 24 November François Turrettini, who had fled Lucca, reportedly reaches Geneva for the first time.[8]
1592. After stays in Antwerp and Zurich, he reportedly settles in Geneva for good.[8]
Early 17th century. François Turrettini, a refugee from Lucca, forms the estate.[1]
1613. François Turrettini, who already owned houses near the priory of Satigny, reportedly buys land there.[8]
1628. On his death his sons Bénédict and Jean reportedly divide the Satigny lands between them.[8]
1631. On 14 June Jean Turrettini obtains from the Republic of Genève the creation of the land and seigneury of Turrettin, detached from the former episcopal mandement of Peney. It is raised to a fief in honour of his father François, « bienfaiteur de la République de Genève ».[1][6][7]
17th century. Construction of a « château de plaisance », or « maison haute à l'italienne », later completed by large outbuildings. Jean Turrettini reportedly had it built around 1631.[1][8]
1794. The Turrettini hold the rights of high, middle and low justice over the seigneury until this date.[1]
1830. Plans show a closed courtyard lined with arcades on three sides.[7][8]
1831. The house is in very poor condition. The Turrettini consider demolishing it, then decide to restore it. The work is finished before 1850.[7][8]
Mid-19th century. The château is modernised.[1]
1989-1990. Restoration of the château, still in private hands.[1]
1995. « Le Château des Bois et ses dépendances » are listed in the 1995 edition of the Swiss inventory of cultural property of national and regional importance.[7]
1999. On 28 December storm Lothar fells about 300 trees in the estate's forest and tears the roof off the large farm building during the night.[7][8]
2000. On 7 April the large farm building, barely rebuilt, is destroyed by fire. The estate was reportedly then entirely rebuilt and the cellar restored.[7][8]
Historic sites in Château des Bois
Château. 17th-century « château de plaisance », or « maison haute à l'italienne », surrounded by large outbuildings; private property.[1]
Large farm building. Main farm outbuilding of the estate, destroyed in the fire of 7 April 2000 and rebuilt since.[7][8]
Sources
- Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Château des Bois » (Isabelle Brunier), version du 23.07.2014
- Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Peney » (Martine Piguet), version du 27.11.2009
- Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Satigny » (Isabelle Brunier), version du 04.04.2013
- Office cantonal de la statistique (OCSTAT), Mémento statistique du canton de Genève 2026, tableau Population résidante par commune, en 2025
- geo.admin.ch, service de recherche de swisstopo (Le Château-des-Bois, Satigny, coordonnées)
- État de Genève, Noms géographiques du canton de Genève, « Chemin du Château-des-Bois »
- Commune de Satigny, Plan directeur communal (urbaplan, 28.10.2010), chapitre 6 « Paysages, sites et patrimoine »
- Domaine du Château des Bois, « Le domaine » (histoire du domaine)
Other villages near Château des Bois
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