Château de la Bâtiaz

The construction of Château de la Bâtiaz was initiated in 1232 by the Bishop of Sion, Landri de Mont. The goal was to control the pass road to the Great St. Bernard. The castle, whose name derives from the term “bastida” for fortress, replaced the older fortress of La Crête in Martigny-Bourg. After 1250, war broke out between Duke Peter of Savoy and the Bishop of Martigny. The Duke conquered La Bâtiaz and La Crête, with the latter later abandoned, and had the round tower, which still stands today, erected. Subsequently, the castle reverted to the Bishop of Sion, who further expanded it. In the 15th century, during the Burgundian Wars, Château de la Bâtiaz was the scene of conflicts between the Dukes of Savoy and the Bishop of Sion, changing hands multiple times. In 1518, as a result of civil war-like disputes between Georg Supersaxo and Matthäus Schiner, the castle was burned down on Supersaxo's orders and was never rebuilt.

The castle ruin Château de la Bâtiaz is located in Martigny, in the district of Martigny, in the canton of Valais, Switzerland. It is situated at an altitude of approximately 534 meters above sea level.

The ruin of the hilltop castle is in good condition after restoration work in 1980 and can be visited. During the summer months, some siege engines are even demonstrated in operation when the weather is fine.