Can you visit the château de Luisandre freely?

Yes, the site has free access, though only ruins remain at the top of Mont Luisandre.

How do you get to the château de Luisandre?

A forest path leads up to the summit of the mount, at 805 metres altitude.

Why was the château de Luisandre built?

It was built in the early 14th century by Count Amadeus V of Savoy to defend the border against the Dauphiné.

What remains of the château today?

Only ruins survive, as the fortress was already largely in disrepair by 1650.

Is the château des Allymes connected to Luisandre?

Yes, it was built by the Dauphiné side nearby, as a direct response to the construction of Luisandre.

Château de Luisandre

Luisandre Castle

Saint-Rambert-en-Bugey

Access

No visits on recordNo opening hours or ticketing found

Where: Saint-Rambert-en-Bugey

To make a day of it

Open within 20 km

Sleep nearby

This week in the agenda

Château de Luisandre stands in Saint-Rambert-en-Bugey (Ain), in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of France. No visits are on record for this building.

On Mont Luisandre, standing at 805 metres above Saint-Rambert-en-Bugey, lie the ruins of a fortress born from a border rivalry between Savoy and the Dauphiné in the early 14th century. Count Amadeus V first had an earth and timber stronghold built there before it was rebuilt in stone, to watch over the route linking Saint-Rambert to the Bresse region. Facing it, barely 800 metres away and lower down the slope, the rival camp raised the château des Allymes, creating a striking pairing of two opposing strongholds that can still be seen today. Only ruins remain of the site, reached after a walk uphill through the forest.

Written from Château de Luisandre

What to know

Access is on foot via a forest path leading to the top of Mont Luisandre.
Only ruins remain on site, as much of the fortress had already vanished by the mid 17th century.
There are no set opening hours or admission fees, as this is an open-air site with free access.
The climb requires a reasonable level of fitness, since the site sits at 805 metres altitude.
The nearby château des Allymes allows visitors to compare the two rival strongholds in a single outing.

Where this château is

Saint-Rambert-en-Bugey · Ain · Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes

Map of the area around Château de Luisandre

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This châteauChâteaux within 40 km

Address

01230 Saint-Rambert-en-Bugey

Directions open from wherever you are, by car or public transport.

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Heritage status: Protection status unknown

In pictures

Frequently asked

Can you visit the château de Luisandre freely?: Yes, the site has free access, though only ruins remain at the top of Mont Luisandre.
How do you get to the château de Luisandre?: A forest path leads up to the summit of the mount, at 805 metres altitude.
Why was the château de Luisandre built?: It was built in the early 14th century by Count Amadeus V of Savoy to defend the border against the Dauphiné.
What remains of the château today?: Only ruins survive, as the fortress was already largely in disrepair by 1650.
Is the château des Allymes connected to Luisandre?: Yes, it was built by the Dauphiné side nearby, as a direct response to the construction of Luisandre.