Château de Menthon-Saint-Bernard

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The Château de Menthon-Saint-Bernard, is a medieval castle fortress situated on a 200m high rock, 12km south of Annecy in the Haute-Savoie département of France. Classed as a monument historique, its stone towers dominate Lake Annecy, the Roc de Chère nature reserve and the Menthon-Saint-Bernard commune.

1 History
2 Tourism
3 External links
4 See also

[edit] History

The first fortress was erected in the 9th century, around 923; it was originally a simple wooden guard post, built on a promontory dominating the ancient Roman road and Lake Annecy. The present buildings were constructed between the 13th and 19th centuries.

In the 11th century, in 1008, Bernard of Menthon - St Bernard, patron saint of skiers - was born in the castle. He later founded the hospice at the Great St Bernard Pass and abbeys in the high mountains.

From 1180, the castle was occupied by the Menthon family who still live there. The origin of the family is uncertain but they came from Burgundy and acquired a degree of feudal power. After their arrival, they constructed the three big square towers.

In the 15th century, Nicod de Menthon was ambassador to France of the Duke Amédée de Savoie, then Governor of Nice and admiral of the fleet sent by the Council of Florence to Constantinople.

During the Renaissance, the medieval fortress was transformed into a sumptuous residence, seat of the Barony of Menthon. Appartments took the place of the round towers and the Menthon family bought a large quantity of furniture.

In the 18th century, a suite of spacious light rooms was added on the side facing the lake, comprising the dining room and the grand hall of 100 m² giving a view of the lake from its four windows.

In the 19th century, between 1860 and 1890, the castle was restyled (consolidation, raising of walls, adding of turrets, creation of a half-timbered gallery in the inner courtyard) by the count, René de Menthon, a fervent disciple of Viollet-le-Duc.

François de Menthon, father of the present count, was a lawyer and member of the Resistance who represented France at the Nuremberg Trials. He worked for the creation of a united Eurpoe and was Minister of Justice under De Gaulle.

[edit] Tourism

The castle has 105 rooms on four levels and spreads over several hundred square metres. Vistors can admire beautifully furnished rooms, in particular the Countess's Bedroom, 13th century kitchens and the great hall, admirably decorated with pictures and antique furniture dated between the 16th and 19th centuries, Louis XIII and Louis XIV furniture, a Gobelins tapestry from 1730 and others from Aubusson.

The library contains more than 12,000 works from before 1800, including incunabulum and ancient manuscripts written on parchment, sheepskin or goatskin, with painted illuminations from monks of the Middle Ages. The bulk of the books date from the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries.

The castle is open from May to September. In summer, the visit is augmented by a troop of actors who relive the past of the castle. Each year, some 40,000 vistors are welcomed.

In 2008, for the anniversaty of the birth of Bernard de Menthon, special commemorations are being organised.