History of the château
A unique history at Château de Thorens
Let us tell you the story - dare we say the history! - of our castle, our thousand-year-old heritage. Soak up this beautiful story!
Intelligence, soul and heart all combine to exalt the pleasure the lover of the past takes in this home. For almost a millennium, this privileged place was home to two families who forged Savoie, each in their own way.
1st Century - All roads lead to Rome
In 43 BC, the Romans captured Lyon, then known as Lugdunum. After taking the city, the Romans began building Gallo-Roman roads. The road through Thorens Glières in Haute Savoie to Rome is thought to have been created at this time. Two towers were built at Thorens to keep watch over the surrounding area. They would later form the foundations of our present-day Thorens castle.
XI - The first stones
Our story continues in 1060. The construction of Thorens castle was initiated and commissioned by Count Gérolde of Geneva. Originally, two towers were built to watch over the ancient road to Rome. A veritable commercial artery, guards were permanently present to ensure the safetý of merchants, troubadours and people from all walks of life. The positioning of the towers is ideal, with a view over the entire Usillon valley the guards can see the slightest enemy incursion or robbery of a merchant.
14th century - The arrival of gunpowder
In the 14th century, Philippe de Compey commissioned the construction of the "square" tower, which owes its shape to its original purpose: to house gunboats. At the time, and still today, a parapet walk links the 13th and 15th century towers.
XV - From one family to another
The Château de Compey's military mission in Haute Savoie came to an end in 1479, when it was confiscated from the de Compey family by the Duke of Savoy as a result of the exactions, crimes and abuses they had committed.
The château was then offered to Hélène de Luxembourg-Saint-Pol, wife of Prince Janus de Savoie (Count of Genevois). Hélène never became attached to the building; she never came and never maintained it. Their daughter Louise de Savoie, who had married her mother's first cousin François de Luxembourg, inherited the château.
XVI - The denouement
Several years later, in 1559, Sébastien de Luxembourg, Duke of Penthièvre and Viscount of Martigues sold the château to Lord François de Sales, father of Saint François de Sales. Having lost their feudal ties with the Sires de Compey, the Sales family subsequently entered the service of the Princes of Luxembourg. Seigneur François de Sales was entrusted with the high office of maître d'hôtel in the household of Prince Sébastien de Luxembourg.
Curiously, and for reasons that are not yet fully understood, the sale of Château de Thorens to the Sales family took around 43 years. The history of the château through the Sales family began in the 17th century, in 1602 to be exact. Saint François de Sales, then on mission in Paris, finalized the purchase of Thorens, on behalf of his siblings, from Marie de Luxembourg, Duchesse de Penthièvre widow of Philippe-Emmanuel de Lorraine, Duc de Mercœur and daughter of Prince Sébastien de Luxembourg.
17th century - From Baron to Marquis
The first main building was constructed in the 16th century. At the time, however, there was a second château at Thorens-Glières in Savoie (now Haute Savoie), that of Les Sales. Located a few hundred meters away on the adjacent hillside, it had no military vocation. It was in this castle that Saint François de Sales was born on August 21, 1567, near Thorens. The son of François de Sales, Seigneur de Boisy, and Françoise de Sionnaz, François de Sales grew up in a noble family. From an early age, he distinguished himself by his intelligence and piety. He received a careful education, studying at the University of Padua, where he obtained his doctorate in law. St. Francis de Sales was instrumental in bringing many Protestants back to Catholicism.
St. Francis de Sales' gentleness, tolerance and charity towards all, even those who opposed him, earned him a great reputation for holiness and wisdom. François de Sales is also known for his spiritual writings, the most famous of which is "Introduction à la vie dévote", a practical guide to leading a spiritual life in the world. In 1610, François de Sales co-founded the Order of the Visitation with St. Jeanne de Chantal, a religious community for women who, for health or other reasons, could not enter traditional religious orders. He was also bishop of Geneva, a city strongly influenced by Protestantism at the time, where he worked for the reconciliation and conversion of the local population. The de Sales family, originally from La Roche, rose rapidly, occupying the highest offices at the Savoy court in Turin and taking the title of baron in 1613. Sadly, Saint François de Sales died on December 28, 1622 in Lyon.
In 1630, Louis XIII attempted to invade Annecy, but Louis de Sales, brother of François de Sales, had the city gates closed, forcing the king to retreat. Louis XIII and Richelieu, overawed by the maneuver, ordered an attack on the Château de Sales. Not being a fortified castle, it was razed to the ground and dismantled by the King's armies. All that remains today are a few foundations. A chapel has been erected on the site of the former birthplace of Saint François de Sales.
The de Sales family took the title of Comte in 1632 and finally Marquis in 1665. On the same date, the late Saint François de Sales was canonized by Pope Alexander VII. He is recognized as the patron saint of writers and journalists, because of his commitment to communication and evangelization through writing. His influence continues to this day, and he remains a revered figure in the Catholic Church. His motto was: "Do everything out of love, and nothing by force".
18th century - The revolution
The French Revolution was in full swing, and although Savoy was not yet part of France, the Savoy aristocracy suffered the collateral damage of this revolt. It was at this time that Alexandrine de Sales fled to Italy to stay with her Cavour cousins, with only her baby and her harp as luggage. Later, the Marquise Alexandrine de Sales achieved the unthinkable: she approached Napoleon I in Paris in 1798 under the name of "Luigia Soffietti" and had the de Sales family name restored. She also obtained the lifting of the sequestration of Savoyard property stolen by the central administration of Mont-Blanc. In 1805, her sister-in-law Philippine petitioned the Emperor for compensation.
This same Revolution left traces that profoundly altered the château. The 11th-century tower was razed to the ground and the roof gutted. The parquet floors were burned by revolutionaries and outlaws, and the tapestries were used by peasants to cover hay. The château remains abandoned, with trees growing in the towers.
Alexandrine de Sales, assisted by her grandson, Count Eugène de Roussy de Sales, set about restoring their heritage. The Count gave up his military duties to devote himself to art and the reconstruction of the family château. At the end of 1869, Count Eugène commissioned the architect Camille Ruphy to draw up a plan for rebuilding the château. For over six years, the old fortress was alive with the noise of stonecutters, carpenters and masons working on the shell. Before long, a new, steep-sided roof clad in Angers slate was rising boldly. Near the entrance, a tower was erected to house a spiral staircase with molasse steps. The farmhouse is demolished and replaced by a terrace, designed by the architect, offering an unobstructed view of the Usillon valley. Cavour's close cousin Camillo Benso was creating the history of Italy. He was a regular visitor to the château. Becoming the first Prime Minister of the Italian Republic, Camille de Cavour led Italian Unity, aided by his old friend, the French Emperor Napoleon III. As a result, the County of Nice and the Duchy of Savoy were united with France in the spring of 1860, by the Treaty of Turin of March 24.
The château houses the statesman's personal effects, furniture and works of art, including the desk on which the Treaty of Turin was signed. The de Sales family was very close to the government, notably with the Comte de Duingt (alias the Marquis Paul-François de Sales).
XXème - Follow the guide
The century in which the two world wars took place. We have little information about the Château's role in the first. Nevertheless, it is possible to trace the general history of the region and imagine how the château and its surroundings were affected by the war. Like many castles in France, Château de Thorens could have been requisitioned for military purposes by German forces to serve as headquarters, a field hospital or a storage facility for supplies and ammunition. The Alpine region where the château is located was strategically important during the war, due to its proximity to the Italian border and the communication routes it offered.
After the war, Château de Thorens and the surrounding area undoubtedly witnessed reconstruction and recovery efforts, as France recovered from the ravages of war and local communities tried to regain a sense of normalcy.
During the Second World War, Thorens and its castle were the stronghold of hope and love of country. It is in Thorens and on the Plateau des Glières that the history of this tragic period comes to life. Thanks to its geographical location, the plateau was the Allies' parachuting ground, and home to numerous maquisards (resistance fighters run by a maquis). In 1944, during the Second World War, Haute-Savoie was the scene of a major event in the French Resistance. On the Plateau des Glières, almost five hundred Resistance fighters bravely confronted more than 10,000 soldiers to liberate their territory, putting their lives at risk. More than seventy years later, their sacrifice is commemorated daily at the very site of the fighting.
The Plateau des Glières welcomed many young people from neighboring valleys seeking to escape the Service du Travail Obligatoire (STO) or motivated by political convictions during the war. Resistance fighters on the Plateau des Glières were crushed by German forces in March 1944 during what became known as the Battle of Les Glières. Under the impetus of the CRHA collective (Citoyens Résistants d'Hier et d'Aujourd'hui), a rally was organized on the Plateau des Glières to recall the republican values of solidarity, fraternity, living together and justice enshrined in the program of the Conseil National de la Résistance, drawn up on March 15, 1944. On August 19, 1944, the Nazi surrender was signed in Annecy. Haute-Savoie became the first territory to be entirely liberated by the strength of its Resistance fighters. General de Gaulle would later say: "It was thanks to Glières that I obtained important parachute drops for the Resistance". The sites of the confrontations still bear witness to this period. Following this tourist route is a plunge into the history of that era.
Château de Thorens was occupied throughout the autumn of 1944 by the 3th section of the Francs Tireur Partisans, and its furnishings were damaged.
Today, the de Roussy de Sales family still live in the château, preserving it with great care. Count Jean-François de Roussy de Sales was the first of his dynasty to open the château to the public. As early as 1960, he took advantage of the ceremonies marking the hundredth anniversary of the annexation of the Duchy of Savoy to France to open the entire ground floor of his residence to the public, as well as almost all the medieval rooms dating back to the 11th century. He had the roofs altered to restore the Savoyard style, and created harmony with the main courtyard. The château became a fitting setting for the grandiose celebrations marking the fourth centenary of the birth of Saint François de Sales in the summer of 1967.
A visit to this historic residence offers a journey through the life of Saint François de Sales and his family. As Prince-Bishop of Geneva, Saint François was a remarkably versatile figure, enjoying immense renown among the simple and the powerful alike. This exhibition on the life of this universal saint takes shape through a rich collection including his liturgical silverware, seals, episcopal vestments, as well as paintings, documents and rare books.
In the midst of an artistic diversity that includes Flanders tapestries, pictorial masterpieces and furniture dating from the Renaissance, Baroque and Second Empire periods, visitors plunge into the very essence of this château. The noble rooms, bathed in golden light, reveal the delicacy of 17th-century taste. The vaulted kitchen awakens the flavors of banquets of yesteryear, while the austere rooms of the early fortifications recall the life of soldiers, and the keep evokes seigniorial justice.
XXIst- Restoring to welcome you better
The century in which the two world wars took place. We have little information about the Château's role in the first. Nevertheless, it is possible to trace the general history of the region and imagine how the château and its surroundings were affected by the war. Like many castles in France, Château de Thorens could have been requisitioned for military purposes by German forces to serve as headquarters, a field hospital or a storage facility for supplies and ammunition. The Alpine region where the château is located was strategically important during the war, due to its proximity to the Italian border and the communication routes it offered.
After the war, Château de Thorens and the surrounding area undoubtedly witnessed reconstruction and recovery efforts, as France recovered from the ravages of war and local communities tried to regain a sense of normalcy.
Unfortunately, the covid 19 crisis hit. No longer allowed to do business. But this was not enough to remove the desire to open the château to the public. In early 2022, the château reopened its doors to receive its first guests. The owners leave their château to live a few yards away. Renovations begin on the rooms. Each room, suite and apartment will be named after a personality who has had an impact on the château in one way or another. It's a permanent tribute to the building's history.
It was then that Mauricette joined the new team. She takes care of cleaning the rooms and the château, and cooks for the first guests in the evenings. A lady with the fingers of a fairy, also living on site. As for her husband, he looked after the outside areas.
In April 2023, Prisca joins the team as assistant manager. With the same values as the owners and a background in the hotel business, the fit was a straightforward one. Imbued with the values of the château and the family, she now takes charge of recruiting the future team, as well as creating the hotel. The management team was formed, and the dice were cast!
To keep the business going, we need to create a new team. Mauricette, who has been a loyal member of the team, is retiring, so we need to find new staff. Fatima, the new chambermaid, starts in August 2023. She's very meticulous, and she makes the château shine! Then it's Annie's turn, a dynamic and resourceful person. She manages the kitchen and starts in September 2023. Living in the region, she's discovering this exceptional place! Geoffrey, our work-study student in digital art direction, also starts at the beginning of September 2023. A motivated young man with a wealth of knowledge, he helps us enormously. And last but not least, Isabelle, our events manager, starts in October 2023. She's a woman of her trade, with excellent commercial skills, who will help us develop the château. The team is complete, and now we need to get the word out about this magnificent place through this new activity.
This small team shares the same values as St François de Sales. The employees are people-oriented, open-minded and spiritual! It's a pleasure to work together on this hotel creation, and the general atmosphere is wonderful, with everyone getting along well and respecting each other. Now everyone's part of the story, in its continuity. The entire team behind the château's current activities transcends the beauty of the premises, in the philosophy of Saint François de Sales, where humanity and love are the recognized values. Other projects are under consideration to enhance the value of this monument.
Communication materials were created, including a website, social networks, flyers and more. The team was present at wedding fairs in Annecy, Geneva and Aix-les-Bains. Influencers discovered Château le Château in its new activity.
A worldwide museographic center in honor of Saint François de Sales will be created in a few years' time.
The current team and owners are motivated by this renewal and are adding new stones to this 1000-year-old edifice.
Further information
Cavour painted by Antonio Ciseri - 1861
Cavour painted by Antonio Ciseri - 1861 The best-known portrait of Count Cavour is the one painted by Hayez in 1864. But
FERT, motto of the House of Savoy
FERT, motto of the House of Savoy: four letters for the elevation of the soul... Words and phrases are like fruit...
From Château de Sales to Chapelle de Sales
From the Château de Sales to the Chapelle de Sales The Château de Sales, the de Sales family's first residence in Thorens, was located approximately
