Château de Saix: A Medieval Fortified Castle in France
Site at a Glance
- Rating
- 4.7
- Popularity
- Very Low
- Country
- France
- Primary era
- Medieval
- Eras represented
- Medieval
- Civilizations
- Duchy of Savoy, Holy Roman Empire
- Site type
- Military
- Remains
- Castle
On this page5 sections
History
Château de Saix is a medieval fortified castle in Péronnas, France, whose construction began in the thirteenth century. It served as the center of the lordship of Saix, a territorial domain governed by a lord who held judicial and other feudal rights over its inhabitants.
The Saix family and the medieval lordship
The castle and lordship initially belonged to the Saix family. Among its earliest known members were Hugues du Saix, recorded between 1080 and 1090, Isambard around 1095, Guy in 1115, Hugues II between 1149 and 1180, and Gui II in 1188. The property remained with the family until Bernard du Saix made his will on 17 October 1454, transferring Saix to his daughter Jeanne, the wife of Jacques de Chalant.
The lords of Saix first exercised middle and lower justice, authority over less serious criminal cases and local civil disputes. Philippe II of Savoy, a ruler from the dynasty that controlled territories in the western Alps and neighboring parts of France and Italy, granted them high justice by letters dated 20 August 1483 and 27 December 1487. This authority covered the most serious criminal cases and punishments.
Inheritance and changing ownership
Jacques de Chalant’s son, Claude de Chalant, died without children. His nephew Étienne-Philibert de Chalant inherited the succession but later sold Saix to Philippe de Poges, also known as Philippe du Poyet. Philippe resumed possession of the fief in 1551 and left it to his wife, Angèle de Momio, who donated it to Pierre de Poges on 24 March 1587.
After a lengthy lawsuit, the property passed to Marguerite du Pré, wife of Abel de Loras, lord of Montplaisant. Her claim derived from rights held through Anne du Pré, who was a creditor for the dowry owed by Étienne-Philibert de Chalant. Marguerite then left Saix to her son, Ennemond de Loras. His descendants still held the property when the Estates General were convened.
Later history and protection
The de Loras family retained the property until 1857, after which it passed to the Chambaud family. Château de Saix remains privately owned. It was listed as a French historic monument by an order dated 9 June 1987. This status recognizes and protects heritage places for their architectural or historical importance.
Remains
Château de Saix survives as a medieval fortified castle whose oldest visible parts date from the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries. The building’s present form reflects several alterations made after construction began in the thirteenth century. These surviving medieval elements preserve the physical character of the castle that stood at the center of the lordship of Saix.
