Château de Grigny, Castle in Grigny-sur-Rhône, France
The Château de Grigny is a 17th-century castle in Grigny-sur-Rhône, in the Rhône department of France. It follows a U-shaped plan with plain stone walls, classically arranged windows, and traditional tiled roofs.
The castle was built from 1620 onward by Jeanne du Clappier, the widow of Gaspard de Merle, a Turinese merchant and advisor to King Louis XIII. It changed hands several times over the centuries before becoming the town hall in 1956.
The rooms of the château still carry names like Salle des Fleurs and Salle des Oiseaux, named after their wall paintings. These images draw from Flemish and German sources, mixing birds, flowers, brocade patterns, and scenes from Greek and Roman mythology.
The castle stands in the center of Grigny-sur-Rhône and is listed as a historic monument, meaning its facades, roofs, and interiors are all protected. It is worth checking in advance whether guided tours or events are available, as access to the interior may vary.
The wall paintings inside the castle were hidden behind wooden panels for about 300 years and were only discovered by accident in 1982, during renovation work. They are now considered among the best-preserved murals in the Lyon region.
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