Château de Vizille
Encyclopedia
The Château de Vizille is a castle in the French town of Vizille
near Grenoble
. It is one of the most prestigious and important castles of the Dauphiné
Region. The Dauphiné was traditionally the homeland of the inheritor of the French throne since the 14th century. Today the Château de Vizille houses the Musée de la Révolution française de Vizille
.
The former castle was held during the French Wars of Religion
by the Catholics. With the peace settlement in 1593, the property was bought by the leader of the Protestant Army, François de Bonne, duc de Lesdiguières
.
From 1604 till 1619 the Duke, who became Pair of France and the last Connetable
in French History had his castle built to highlight his important role in the French court. The castle is surrounded by a wall of seven kilometers in length.
At the end of the 18th century, the castle and its surrounding property were bought by Claude Perier
, a local businessman, who set up a textile factory in it. On 21 July 1788 he allowed the estates general of the Dauphiné
to meet in a tennis court in the castle, after it was banned from gathering at Grenoble
. The Perier family owned it until 1895, during which time the castle itself was made a monument historique
in 1862.
In 1924 the castle became the property of the French State and in 1973 the castle was given by the French government to the Community Counsil of Isere.
region with visitors in 2008.
The park was classified as a historic monument on 23rd August 1991. The design of the park dates from the 19th century.
Vizille
Vizille is a commune in the Isère department in south-eastern France.Vizille is home to the Musée de la Révolution Française de Vizille, a rich depository of archival and rare materials devoted to the French Revolution, housed since 1984 in the Château de Vizille, a Monument Historique. The library...
near Grenoble
Grenoble
Grenoble is a city in southeastern France, at the foot of the French Alps where the river Drac joins the Isère. Located in the Rhône-Alpes region, Grenoble is the capital of the department of Isère...
. It is one of the most prestigious and important castles of the Dauphiné
Dauphiné
The Dauphiné or Dauphiné Viennois is a former province in southeastern France, whose area roughly corresponded to that of the present departments of :Isère, :Drôme, and :Hautes-Alpes....
Region. The Dauphiné was traditionally the homeland of the inheritor of the French throne since the 14th century. Today the Château de Vizille houses the Musée de la Révolution française de Vizille
Musée de la Révolution française de Vizille
The Musée de la Révolution française de Vizille is a departmental museum on the French Revolution, located in the French town of Vizille, 15 kilometres to the south of Grenoble, on the route Napoléon...
.
History
French Wars of Religion
The French Wars of Religion is the name given to a period of civil infighting and military operations, primarily fought between French Catholics and Protestants . The conflict involved the factional disputes between the aristocratic houses of France, such as the House of Bourbon and House of Guise...
by the Catholics. With the peace settlement in 1593, the property was bought by the leader of the Protestant Army, François de Bonne, duc de Lesdiguières
François de Bonne, duc de Lesdiguières
François de Bonne, duc de Lesdiguières was soldier of the French Wars of Religion and Constable of France.- Early life :He was born at Saint-Bonnet-en-Champsaur, to a family of notaries with pretensions to nobility...
.
From 1604 till 1619 the Duke, who became Pair of France and the last Connetable
Connétable
Connétables in Jersey and Guernsey are the elected heads of the Parishes. They are often called 'constables' in English. The constables are entitled each to carry a silver-tipped baton of office.- Jersey :...
in French History had his castle built to highlight his important role in the French court. The castle is surrounded by a wall of seven kilometers in length.
At the end of the 18th century, the castle and its surrounding property were bought by Claude Perier
Claude Perier
Claude II Périer , known as milord, was a French banker and industrialist of the Périer family, notable for his ownership of the Château de Vizille and his involvement in the Assembly of Vizille. He was the son of Jacques II Périer and his wife Marie-Elizabeth Dupuy, and father of Casimir Pierre...
, a local businessman, who set up a textile factory in it. On 21 July 1788 he allowed the estates general of the Dauphiné
Assembly of Vizille
The Assembly of Vizille was the result of a meeting of various representatives in Grenoble, which took place on 7 June 1788. Its purpose was to discuss the events of The Day Of The Tiles, one of the first revolts preceding the French Revolution....
to meet in a tennis court in the castle, after it was banned from gathering at Grenoble
Grenoble
Grenoble is a city in southeastern France, at the foot of the French Alps where the river Drac joins the Isère. Located in the Rhône-Alpes region, Grenoble is the capital of the department of Isère...
. The Perier family owned it until 1895, during which time the castle itself was made a monument historique
Monument historique
A monument historique is a National Heritage Site of France. It also refers to a state procedure in France by which national heritage protection is extended to a building or a specific part of a building, a collection of buildings, or gardens, bridges, and other structures, because of their...
in 1862.
In 1924 the castle became the property of the French State and in 1973 the castle was given by the French government to the Community Counsil of Isere.
The Park
The castle park has a total of 320 acres of space, and is the most popular site in the IsèreIsère
Isère is a department in the Rhône-Alpes region in the east of France named after the river Isère.- History :Isère is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on March 4, 1790. It was created from part of the former province of Dauphiné...
region with visitors in 2008.
The park was classified as a historic monument on 23rd August 1991. The design of the park dates from the 19th century.