Remains of the castle of Cré Some informations about more castles.
La Mothe castle remains in Arvier
La Mothe castle overlooks the village from a hill. Unfortunately, today, it is possible to see only the four-sided tower and the remains of a round tower and of the circle of walls. The castle was built between 11th and 15th century and its name appears already in a document of 1287 about the homage of Aimone de Arverio to the count of the Savoia Family. The name "La Mothe" comes from Aimar de la Mothe, a Savoyard gentleman who arrived in Aosta Valley at the end of the 13th century. Here, he married the heiress of the De Arverio Family, he became the proprietor of the castle and gave it his name.
Montmayeur castle remains in Valgrisenche
Montmayeur castle, built in 1271 by Anselmo and Aimone D'Avise, dominates the entrance of the Valgrisenche, on the right side of the Dora of Valgrisenche. It is possible to reach it by foot from the path that begins in the village of Grand Haury, right on Arvier. Today it remains only a cylindrical tower with a suggestive battlement with tails, the remains of the castle and of the circle of walls.
Avise castle
The first building you meet on the left side of Avise is the castle: a construction on three floors with a square tower. Very interesting are the ornaments with embrasures on the tower and the wonderful geminate windows with decoration of overturned keels. The castle was built at the end of the 15th century by Rodolfo d'Avise. After the extinction of the dynasty, it had many different owners and now it is a private residence.
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Blonay castle in Avise
Blonay castle is situated nearby the church of Avise. It is composed by a square tower of the 12th century and a main body of the 15th century with beautiful window bars. The castle was the residence of the powerful D'Avise Family until 1645. Then it became a property of the Blonay Family and it changed its name. The ancient tower was called "des prisons", of the prisons: still in 1787 Filippo de Blonay laid claim to jail the criminal inside! The tower was then sold to other families and the main body was alienated by the Blonay Family.
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Cré castle remains in Avise
At the exit of the village, to the limit of a promontory rises the castle of Cré. This fortress was probably built in the 10th century. It belonged to Pierre d'Avise, official of Aosta. Around 1450, it was sold to Bonifacio Ducrest, a Savoyard ducal official. The Family Ducrest disappeared at the beginning of the 18th century.
Châtel-Argent castle remains in Villeneuve
The castle of Châtel-Argent rises on a promontory that was inhabited since the Roman epoch. Châtel-Argent, which dominates an important narrow passage of the valley, was in the hands of the Savoy family from immemorial time. The structure is said to date from 1275. From this period, the fortified area consists of two levels: the upper level contains the main tower and the dwelling houses, the lower contains the most ancient part of the building: the chapel of the 11th century. The name of the castle means that here coins were stricken. Today it is possible to reach the ruins of the castle by a way that begins and ends in the centre of the village of Villeneuve.
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