Château de Cruseilles
The Château de Cruseilles is a former castle, probably dating from the 13th century and now in ruins, located in the commune of Cruseilles in the department of Haute-Savoie, in the Auvergne–Rhône-Alpes region.
Location
The Château de Cruseilles belonged to the County of Geneva and was situated along the road linking Geneva to Annecy. Located after the Mont Sion pass when coming from Geneva, it preceded the crossings of the Usses and the Caille. A secondary route along the southern slope of the Salève, passing through Le Sappey and Vovray-en-Bornes, connected the area to the Arve Valley and the. The settlement defended by the castle had three gates: one on the Geneva side, one on the Annecy side to the southeast, and a southern gate known as the Corbet gate; a postern may also have existed on the road to Ronzier.The present-day Rue du Corbet provided access to the castle.
The site is associated with the fortified house of Pontverre, described as the “little castle” of the nobles of Cruseilles. This structure, now disappeared, was located below the Château de Cruseilles on the right bank of the Usses.
History
According to, curator of the Musée d’Annecy, the structure was likely built in the 13th century.In his will, Count Amadeus II of Geneva granted his wife, Agnes of Châlons, the usufruct of the castles and châtellenies of Annecy, Clermont,, La Bâtie, and de Sillingy, along with a dowry of 5,000 livres tournois secured by the estates of Cruseilles and.
From 1402 onward, Cruseilles, like the County of Geneva, became part of the domain of the House of Savoy.
In 1563, although already in decline, the site was used as a prison. In 1590, Spanish troops briefly took refuge there during the town's sack.
By the time the cadastre of the Duchy of Savoy was compiled, only a square tower of the castle remained.
Description
In 1865, only a single tower of the former castle remained. Baron noted that it was inhabited at the time and contained a vaulted room. He also reported the presence of surrounding architectural remains, including remnants of buildings, sections of ramparts, and the entrance gate. The pointed arch of the gate bore a carved cross and the arms of Savoy.The castle had a chapel dedicated to Saint Agatha, attested between 1371 and 1373. Three chaplaincies were recorded at the beginning of the 15th century during a pastoral visit.
Châtellenie of Cruseilles
The Château de Cruseilles was the seat of a châtellenie, also called a mandement. It functioned as a comital châtellenie, directly dependent on the Count of Geneva. In the 12th century, authority in Cruseilles was shared between the count and a vidomne, with individuals recorded around 1160, 1179, and 1282. During the 13th century, the hereditary office of vidomne was replaced by a châtelain appointed directly by the count.In the 17th century, the arms of the mandement of Cruseilles were blazoned as a silver scallop on a red field.
The châtelain was an officer appointed for a fixed term, revocable and removable, responsible for administering the châtellenie, collecting fiscal revenues, and maintaining the castle. The châtelain was occasionally assisted by a receiver of accounts, who prepared the annual report submitted by the châtelain or his deputy.
| Genevan Administration The châtellenie regularly served as an apanage for members of the. Thus, Guy, the seventh son of Count William II of Geneva, future, inherited the mandement. It also formed part of the dower of Countess Agnes of Châlons. Finally, it was a possession of the last count, the antipope Robert of Geneva.
In 1402, it entered the Savoyard domain.
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