About the Aymavilles Castle
The white Castle of Aymavilles, located at the entrance to the Cogne Valley on a moraine hill surrounded by vineyards, is an elegant eighteenth-century residence.
The history of the castle, however, has ancient origins, beginning in 1207 when there was a simple fortification here that subsequently underwent numerous transformations. In 1360 the Savoy family gave the jurisdiction to Aimone di Challant to whom we owe the medieval structure of the castle and the wooden structures of the attic, built by skilled craftsmen of the time.
Subsequently, his son Amedeo di Challant continued the embellishment works with the construction of the four semi-circular towers placed on the sides of the squared structure.
In the eighteenth century, Baron Giuseppe Felice di Challant launched a radical campaign of modernization of the building, transforming the castle into an elegant state home and building the Baroque loggias, giving to the structure that Rococo taste that still characterizes it today.
The exterior was also graced by a large park with a fountain, from which you can enjoy a spectacular view across the valley.
When the Challant family line came to an end, the castle had several owners until 1970, when it was purchased by the Autonomous Region of Aosta Valley.
Guided tour of Aymavilles Castle
During the guided tour of the Aymavilles Castle you will be able on the one hand to understand the history of the castle itself, on the other hand to visit the museum exhibition, which allows you to admire the collection of the Academie de Saint Anselme, an important collection of ancient objects and paintings belonged to this cultural institution founded in 1855.
The permanent museum itinerary is set up on three levels that address different themes.
The ground floor tells the story of the castle and the families who have lived here over the centuries.
The first floor highlights the important role taken up by Count Vittorio Cacherano Osasco della Rocca-Challant and introduces the collection of the Academie Saint Anselme, with the display of wooden sculptures, paintings, jewelry, etc. …
On the top floor you can admire the attic supported by the original fifteenth-century wooden trusses. Here a modern museum set-up with multimedia and audiovisual supports, will allow you to appreciate the evolutionary history of the castle.
Discover here the guided tours of all the castles of the Aosta Valley
