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The medieval castle of Montrottier and its remarkable
collections are located in the Savoy foreland, between
the Rhone River and the limestone foothills of the
Alps.
The surroundings
have been defined though erosion by the River Fier
as it descends Mont Charvin, sculpting deep natural
gorges. It is just above the Fier Gorge in Lovagny
that this fortified castle was erected between the
13th and 15th centuries.
Montrottier Castle is a pentagonal fortress built
around a cylindrical keep. The oldest buildings
date back to the 13th century; the others were constructed
in the 15th century. The western side was restored
in the 19th century.
The castle contains a remarkable collection of furniture,
ceramics, lace, weapons, and rare Asian and African
objects accumulated by Léon Marès,
one of the last great collectors of the end of the
19th century. Four 16th century bronze bas-reliefs,
masterpieces of casters Peter and Hans Vischer of
Nuremberg, are also displayed.
The castle belongs to the Florimontane Academy,
founded in 1606 by Saint-François de Sales
and the jurist Antoine Favre, father of the French
grammarian Vaugelas.
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