Château de Sallenôves

Château de Sallenôves stands above Marlioz, a small commune in Haute-Savoie roughly 21 km northwest of Annecy. Perched on a rocky spur 400 meters above sea level, the fortress overlooks the point where the valleys of the Petites Usses and Grandes Usses rivers meet.

What is the origin of the castle?

A fortified house first went up on this spur in the 12th century, and its position was no accident. Whoever held it commanded a river ford on the road connecting Geneva and Seyssel, a route that followed an older Roman road. That control translated into steady income: tolls collected from travelers and merchants crossing the Petites Usses below.

Who ruled from Sallenôves?

The stronghold takes its name from the Sallenove family, related to the House of Viry and holding the fief as vassals of the Counts of Geneva. The earliest recorded member is a certain Guillaume, styled "miles de aula nova" in 1160. A century later, in 1275, Aimon de Sallenove formally paid homage to Count Aymon II of Geneva for the castle. The family's grip on the estate held firm through the shifting fortunes of medieval Savoy for generations afterward.

Which historical episodes shaped the site?

One notable visit came in June 1365, when Emperor Charles IV of Luxembourg stopped at Sallenôves on his way back from Arles, where he had just been crowned King of Arles. A more turbulent moment followed in 1536: as troops of Francis I of France pushed into Savoy, Alexandre de Sallenove managed to hold them off near the castle, defending the strategic crossing it guarded.

Renovations across the 15th and 16th centuries reshaped the fortress into something closer to a noble residence than a purely defensive post. In 1583, Charles de Sallenove — recorded as a gentleman-in-ordinary to Emperor Charles V — passed both Sallenôves and the neighboring château at Marlioz to Pierre de Montluel.

What does the castle look like today?

The building that survives today pairs two substantial residential wings with a pair of square towers, locally known as the "Tour salle" and the "Tour du carré." That layout is a fairly typical expression of Savoyard noble architecture at the hinge between the medieval and Renaissance periods, and it remains legible on the site.

Château de Sallenôves has been listed as a historic monument since April 17, 1931. In 1930, the property was bought by Émile Schurch, who carried out its restoration; his family has owned it ever since, and the château continues to serve as a private residence. That matters for anyone planning a visit — the grounds are private property, and the best way to appreciate the building is from the road running along the Usses valley rather than up close.

Local lore occasionally lists Sallenôves among the handful of castles in Haute-Savoie with a reputation for being haunted — a detail that adds some color to the visit even if it belongs firmly to legend rather than history.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can visitors go inside Château de Sallenôves? No. The castle is privately owned by the Schurch family and is not open to the public for interior visits. It can be viewed from outside, from the road along the Usses valley.

How far is it from Annecy? Marlioz sits about 21 km northwest of Annecy, roughly a half-hour drive under normal traffic conditions.

Why is the castle protected as a historic monument? It combines the remains of a 12th-century fortified stronghold with later Renaissance-era additions from the 15th and 16th centuries, making it a notable example of Savoyard defensive and residential architecture. It has been registered as a monument historique since 1931.

What is the connection to the Sallenove family? The castle is named after the Sallenove family, who held it from at least the 12th century until the late 16th century, when ownership passed to the de Montluel family.