Saint-Pierre Castle, Medieval castle and natural science museum in Saint-Pierre, Italy
Saint-Pierre Castle is a medieval fortress set on a rocky hill in the Aosta Valley, Italy, featuring four round towers and building elements from different periods. Inside, nine rooms house the exhibitions of the regional natural science museum.
The fortress was founded in 1191 by the de Castro Sancti Petri brothers as a fortified house with a single tower on this strategic hilltop. It changed hands and was rebuilt several times over the following centuries.
The natural science museum inside displays local animals, rocks, and information about the Aosta Valley environment. The collection gives a concrete sense of the wildlife and landscape that surrounds the castle today.
Opening times vary by season, so it is worth checking before you go. The visit involves stairs and sloped paths both inside and around the fortification, so comfortable footwear is a good idea.
A renovation in 1873 by architect Camillo Boggio added Bavarian-style elements to the structure, giving it a look that does not match the typical Italian medieval castle. If you look closely at the exterior, you can still spot where the older stonework meets the 19th-century additions.
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