Castello Jocteau, Eclectic palace in Aosta, Italy
Castello Jocteau is an eclectic palace perched on Beauregard hill at 654 meters elevation, featuring square and circular towers. Today it serves as the headquarters of the Alpine Military School and contains a small mountaineering museum.
Baroness Candida Jocteau Bombrini commissioned the building between 1906 and 1907, blending various architectural styles. The Italian State acquired it in 1934 and has used it for military training purposes ever since.
The neo-Gothic chapel holds a crucifix gifted by Pope John Paul II alongside wooden furnishings and a Madonna painting. This space reflects the spiritual importance the original owner placed on the residence.
The palace sits on a hill with steep access roads and requires reasonable fitness to visit. Wear sturdy footwear and check opening times beforehand, as military school activities may limit public access on certain days.
The grounds hold a climbing wall from the early 1900s specifically designed for alpine training. This installation is among the oldest of its kind and shows how innovative alpine military instruction was in this region.
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