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Base Mérimée: Monuments historiques · France

Ensemble castral du Montellier

Le Montellier, Ain, France

The record

Designation
Historic monument, classified (classé)
Protection
classé MH
Extent of protection
En totalité, pour être conservé et remis en état, l'ensemble castral comprenant les constructions et les sols, y compris l'emprise foncière des glacis et fossés (cad. A 176, 183, 184, 192) : classement par décret du 17 juin 2003
Protection dates
2003/06/17 : classé MH
Type
château fort
Main period of construction
13e siècle, 14e siècle
Later work
15e siècle, 16e siècle, 19e siècle
Ownership
propriété privée
Commune
Le Montellier
Département
Ain
Region
Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
Country
France
Coordinates
45.94230, 5.07431
Mérimée reference
PA00116430

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David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries

5 historical maps cover this location, the earliest the 1632 map "Description du Pais de Bresse." (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries).

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This record on the Ministère de la Culture's POP platform ↗

The Ministère de la Culture's notice

Le château du Montellier est sans doute l'ensemble le mieux conservé et le plus évocateur des fortifications médiévales subsistant en Bresse et en Dombes, édifiées en grosses briques dites "savoyardes" ou "carrons". L'ensemble, y compris le donjon circulaire avec le logis y attenant constituant l'ancienne haute-cour, l'enceinte talutée refermée sur la basse-cour et flanquée de neuf tours carrées ou rectangulaires, semble remonter aux 13e et 14e siècles, avec remaniements ou adjonctions aux 15e et 16e siècles (divers bâtiments de logis et communs viennent s'appuyer intérieurement à la courtine, le logis principal au sud étant doublé d'une façade intérieure sur cour au 19e siècle qui, simplement plaquée, a totalement respecté la façade 16e siècle désormais intérieure).

English translation

The text above is the record as published by the Ministère de la Culture, in French. The English below is a machine translation made by TreeAlive, not by the Ministère de la Culture; it has not been checked by a person. Where the two differ, the original is the record. Report a translation error: privacy@treealive.com

The castle of Montellier is without doubt the best preserved and most evocative ensemble of medieval fortifications remaining in Bresse and Dombes, built of large bricks called "Savoyard" or "carrons". The ensemble, including the circular keep with the dwelling attached to it constituting the former haute-cour, the talutted enclosure closed on the lower courtyard and flanked by nine square or rectangular towers, appears to go back to the 13th and 14th centuries, with alterations or additions in the 15th and 16th centuries (various dwelling buildings and outhouses come to rest internally against the curtain wall, the main dwelling to the south being doubled with an interior façade on the courtyard in the 19th century which, simply applied, has completely respected the 16th century façade now interior).

Nearby in the register

Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.

Base Mérimée, Ministère de la Culture, data last updated 2026-09-17, reused under the Licence Ouverte / Open Licence 2.0 (Etalab). Record text is reproduced unchanged. Ministère de la Culture · Licence Ouverte 2.0
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