Château des Allymes

The origins of the Château des Allymes date back to the 14th century when it was conceived as a refuge castle. Its primary function was to protect the surrounding population during wartime. A keep, the oldest part of the complex, was begun around 1351. In the 16th century, a residential wing was added. Through the Treaty of Lyon in 1601, the castle, along with the Bugey region, came under French rule. René de Lucinge, the then feudal lord, subsequently entered the service of King Henry IV. In 1847, the then owner Adolphe de Tricaud d’Ambérieu initiated the first restoration efforts, halting the decay of the complex. Further restorations and archaeological excavations took place from 1964 and were completed in the 1970s. Since July 20, 1960, the castle has been protected as a Monument historique.