Château de Chantemerle

Château de Chantemerle is a medieval castle ruin in La Bâthie featuring a distinctive cylindrical main tower measuring 8.5 meters (28 feet) in diameter and 22 meters (72 feet) tall, alongside a square tower integrated into the defensive wall. The remaining structures display different phases of construction and use.

First documented in 1196, the site gained greater importance from 1265 onward under Pierre II of Savoy, serving as a surveillance point and tax collection station for Tarentaise bishops. This role established its strategic and economic significance for centuries.

The castle blends defensive military design with residential comfort, featuring decorated fireplaces and large windows that show how it evolved beyond pure fortress functions. Walking through the rooms reveals this transition in the architecture itself.

Visiting requires about a 20-minute walk from the departmental road, with access restricted to May through October. Plan for uneven terrain and wear appropriate footwear for the walk from the parking area.

The keep contains five distinct floor levels with only the top floor receiving natural light, while lower levels feature arrow slit niches for defense. This arrangement reveals how lower sections served pure defensive functions while upper areas provided living space.