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Agliè Castle today

Italy · Restored

Agliè Castle

Castello Ducale di Agliè

Agliè Castle is a ducal residence in Agliè, Piedmont, long held by the House of Savoy and included since 1997 among the UNESCO Residences of the Royal House of Savoy. The present appearance reflects extensive 17th–19th century remodelling into a palatial residence with formal courtyards, a chapel, connecting galleries and landscaped parkland with a large lake and pond.

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Photograph via Wikimedia Commons

Its prime

1840

Today

Restored

As it stood in 1840

What Agliè Castle looked like in its prime.

A compact palatial complex of masonry façades with two courtyards (one facing the village and one internal), an extended garden-facing front, and two eastern towers reduced to small pavilion-like structures; a two-story covered gallery links the castle to the adjacent parish church. The grounds in the prime display a landscaped park with a large lake and a smaller pond, visible from the lower terraces, and multiple formal and informal galleries opening onto courtyards.

Its story

The story of Agliè Castle.

Agliè Castle in Piedmont was long the seat of the Counts of San Martino. In 1667 Count Filippo of San Martino, who had served as counsellor to Christine of France, commissioned the royal architect Amedeo di Castellamonte to redesign the garden façade, the chapel of San Massimo, the two galleries and the courtyard.

In 1764 the Counts of San Martino sold the property to the House of Savoy, which placed it among the holdings of Prince Benedetto, Duke of Chablais. Under Napoleon's occupation the castle became a refuge for the poor and the park was sold off for agriculture, but from 1823 it was reinstated among the Savoy possessions; Charles Albert passed it to his younger son Prince Ferdinando, Duke of Genoa, whose successors kept a private "royal" waiting room at Ozegna railway station from 1887 for their visits.

In 1939 the heirs of Prince Tommaso, Duke of Genoa, sold the castle to the Italian state for eight million lire. Since 1997 it has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site as one of the Residences of the Royal House of Savoy.

Step inside

9 places to explore in 1840.

The record describes 9 distinct spots at Agliè Castle, including 3 interiors: chapel of san massimo, two-story gallery linking to parish church, state apartments (principal interiors). Create your own photoreal reconstruction and explore every one, more scenes means more rooms, more angles, and more of the place to stand in.

Approach: village-facing courtyardVillage-facing courtyardInner courtyardGarden-facing façade and terracesChapel of San MassimoTwo-story gallery linking to parish churchState apartments (principal interiors)Lakeside view across the large lakeSmall pond and lower terraces

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Castle Siege

Play Castle Siege at Agliè Castle.

A strategy game played on Agliè Castle’s real ground plan: the same surveyed walls shown in the archive below. Post your finite garrison on the battlements between assaults, then hold out as rams, siege towers, trebuchets and sappers arrive in ever-worse waves.

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Whose castle

Clans who held Agliè Castle.

The families that held Agliè Castle for a decade or more across its history, follow a name to its clan.

  • San Martino

    Seat of the Counts of San Martino until they sold it to the House of Savoy in 1764.

  • Savoy

    Held by the House of Savoy from 1764, reinstated in 1823 after the Napoleonic occupation, until sold to the state in 1939.

From the archive

Agliè Castle on paper: the measured plan and period views.

The survey plan and photographs below are the ground truth this page's reconstructions are checked against, drawn and photographed while the castle was still a working garrison. Every image is public-domain or openly licensed, with its source named.

Il castello di Agliè, Agliè Castle

Il castello di Agliè

1958 · Turin Gallery for Modern and Contemporary Art (via Europeana)

CC BY

Nearby

Landmarks within reach of Agliè Castle.

Juventus Stadium, ItalyStadiumJuventus Stadium30 km awayBasilica of Superga, ItalyMuseumBasilica of Superga31 km awaySindone Chapel, ItalyChurchSindone Chapel33 km away

Questions about Agliè Castle

What is the history of Agliè Castle?

Agliè Castle began in the 12th century as the central nucleus built for the Counts of San Martino. In 1667, Filippo of San Martino commissioned Amedeo di Castellamonte to remodel the garden façade, chapel, galleries and courtyard. The House of Savoy acquired it in 1764, and the Italian state bought it from the Savoy heirs in 1939.

What is inside Agliè Castle?

Inside Agliè Castle are state apartments, the Chapel of San Massimo, a library, an art gallery, a theatre and a ballroom. Other documented rooms include the Salone di Caccia, the Sala degli Antenati, the Sala della Musica and the Queen’s bedroom and dressing room. The gallery of the Tribunes contains 72 portraits of Knights of the Order of the Annunciation.

Who owns Agliè Castle now?

Agliè Castle is owned by the Italian state. It has been part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Residences of the Royal House of Savoy since 1997, as well as having Italian national heritage designation.

Why was Agliè Castle built, and what was it used for?

Agliè Castle was raised as a fortified residence for the Counts of San Martino, whose central nucleus dates from the 12th century. Its role later changed from a medieval-looking fortress into a palatial residence, with spacious apartments, formal courtyards, galleries, a chapel and landscaped grounds. During Napoleon’s occupation it became a refuge for the poor, and it later became a museum.

Where is Agliè Castle?

Agliè Castle is in Agliè, in Piedmont. The castle is located in the municipality of Agliè, and its village-facing courtyard opens towards the village. It is in the metropolitan city of Turin area.

When was Agliè Castle built?

Agliè Castle was first raised in the 12th century, although the site record does not give a first-raised year. Its present form developed through later remodelling, including major works in the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries.

Which family or clan held Agliè Castle?

The Counts of San Martino held Agliè Castle until they sold it to the House of Savoy in 1764. The House of Savoy held it from 1764, and it was reinstated among their possessions in 1823 after the Napoleonic occupation. Savoy ownership ended when the castle was sold to the state in 1939.

What did Agliè Castle look like in its prime?

In its prime, Agliè Castle was a compact palatial complex with masonry façades, two courtyards and an extended garden-facing front. Its two eastern towers had been reduced to small pavilion-like structures, while a two-storey covered gallery linked the castle to the parish church. The landscaped grounds included a large lake, a smaller pond and terraces.

Is Agliè Castle still standing or is it a ruin?

Agliè Castle is still standing and has been restored. It retains two courtyards, the garden-facing façade, the chapel, connecting galleries and landscaped parkland, while the present appearance reflects extensive remodelling from the 17th to the 19th centuries.

Who built Agliè Castle?

Amedeo di Castellamonte designed the major 1667 remodelling of Agliè Castle, commissioned by Count Filippo of San Martino. Later renovation work was entrusted to Ignazio Renato Birago di Borgaro, Michele Borda di Saluzzo and, for the romantic landscape works, Xavier Kurten.

Can you visit Agliè Castle?

Agliè Castle can be visited as a museum. Its rooms include a visitors’ ticket office, and the castle is managed by Italy’s Ministry for Cultural Heritage and Activities through the regional museums service. Much of the building is also recognised as part of the UNESCO Residences of the Royal House of Savoy.

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