Château d'Yvoire, Medieval castle in Yvoire, France.
The Château d'Yvoire is a medieval castle built in stone overlooking the town of Yvoire on Lake Geneva. Its main tower has a rectangular shape with particularly thick walls, which reflect its original purpose as a defensive stronghold.
Count Amedeo V of Savoy commissioned this fortress in 1306 as a strategic military stronghold. Its construction served to monitor and control the important trade route that connected Geneva to Italy.
The castle has been home to the Bouvier d'Yvoire family since 1655, representing centuries of regional aristocratic heritage. Visitors can observe from outside how this building shapes the cultural identity of the lakeside area.
The castle interior is not open to the public, so most visitors focus on viewing and photographing the exterior. The best viewing spot is at the intersection of Rue du Lac and Rue de la Liberté, which offers a clear sightline to the building.
The castle's original vegetable garden was transformed in 1986 into the Garden of Five Senses, a botanical space with distinctive features. This garden has become a notable attraction that reveals a different character of the historic site.
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