W7kmLaBuissonnièreConspectusMauchamp

Walk 9 km

From home La Buissonnière to Tour de Conspectus and Château de Mauchamp

Tour de Conspectus / Château de Mauchamp

The ruins of the Tour de Conspectus and the Château de Mauchamp together form a unique historical walking area where nature, heritage, and impressive panoramas meet.

Located in the region of Saint-Genix-les-Villages, on the last foothills of the Jura Mountains, these castles guarded the border between Savoy and France for centuries. Today, only their ruins remain, hidden among the vegetation, but the sites still breathe the atmosphere of the Middle Ages.

The Château de Mauchamp was built in the 14th century at a strategic height. From the ruins, you can enjoy an exceptional view of the Guiers valley, the rock walls of Banchet, the massif of the Chartreuse, Mont Grelle, and Mont Granier. The Château de Rochefort is also visible to the naked eye, while the Château de Montbel is hidden among the greenery.

About 500 meters away are the remains of the Tour de Conspectus, accessible via the walking path “Les Balcons de St Maurice.” This tower is located at an elevation of 731 meters at the site still called “La Tour.” Here, hidden in the foliage, are the remnants of the first castle of Saint-Maurice — one of the oldest castles in Savoy.

The original castle was built at the beginning of the 11th century and dominated the plateau of Haut Saint-Maurice. It overlooked the site of an old church that was located about 300 meters to the south. Thanks to the impressive view, which extends from the chain of the Épine to the winding Rhône, this place was named “Conspectus,” the Latin and scholarly variant of Beauregard or Beauvoir.

Archaeological excavations between 2002 and 2005 revealed two major phases of habitation. The oldest construction was a hall from the 11th and 12th centuries. The regular layers of small limestone blocks are still visible at the base of the walls. The building included a high rectangular hall that was reinforced on the east side by two buttresses. On the south side, there was a large double entrance gate.

At the beginning of the 13th century, the lord of Gerbaix had this hall demolished and a square tower built in its place with a wooden supporting structure and a plant-based roof. The ground floor served as storage for the harvest and possibly also as a stable. The living quarters of the lord were located on the floor above, accessible via an external wooden staircase along the facade.

In the second half of the 14th century, the tower was destroyed by a major fire. Thereafter, the lords of the region built a new fortified castle about 500 meters further south: the Château de Mauchamp.

Together, these sites tell the story of centuries-old fortifications in Savoy, where history and landscape are still closely intertwined.

Info : https://www.explore-savoie.com/sites-culturels/la-tour-de-conspectus-5066534/ + https://www.explore-savoie.com/sites-culturels/les-ruines-du-chateau-de-mauchamp-5344048/

FREE GPX VIA https://www.routeyou.com/nl-fr/route/view/19028912?c=bee4f3f7b2c64736

Info : https://www.explore-savoie.com/sites-culturels/la-tour-de-conspectus-5066534/ + https://www.explore-savoie.com/sites-culturels/les-ruines-du-chateau-de-mauchamp-5344048/