The castle of Montjoie-le-Château is located in the town of the same name, in the Doubs department, 19 km south-east of Pont-de-Roide (by road).
Its remains are located on a spur, north of the village it dominates.
Seat of a seigniory subsequently raised to the rank of barony, the building dates from the beginning of the 13th century. Its vocation was to monitor a narrow passage in the Doubs valley.
The first master of the place was Richard de Glère.
Besieged for the first time in 1428, the castle was taken in 1444 by the imperial troops, and it was again conquered in 1475 during the wars of Burgundy by the troops of the Swiss confederates.
During the Ten Years' War, in the 17th century, a captain from Lorraine took refuge there with 500 men. Marshal de La Force, Armand Nompar de Caumont, loyal to Louis XIII, besieged the fortress for three weeks before taking the place on June 6, 1635. French troops then destroyed the castle.
Nowadays, only part of the keep remains, at the highest point of the site, and a few rare elements of fortifications, whereas at its peak, the castle also included a dwelling, barracks, towers and walls. On the other hand, the chapel was spared. Dedicated to Saint-Georges, dating from the 12th century, it is in a style of transition between Romanesque and Gothic. The chapel houses the tomb of Claudine Montjoie, who died in 1612, and has preserved carved capitals and medieval windows from the period.
The entire site is listed in the Inventory. The remains of the castle and the chapel are freely accessible and can punctuate a walk in this charming village bordering Switzerland.
Information on 0 381 212 999.
