Gruyères Castle

The Castle of Gruyères (French: Château de Gruyères ) is a castle in the town of Gruyères in the canton of Fribourg.

Plant

The Castle of the Counts former dominates today's small town that was the center of the county of Greyerz in the upper Saanen valley earlier. The county enjoyed in her secluded location, long a high degree of independence, but came under Count Rudolf II von Greyerz in 1246 under the suzerainty of Savoy. The castle was built in 1270-1282 in the style of the Savoy fortifications.

History

In the 10th century the territory of the county of Greyerz belonged to the kingdom of Burgundy. The first known Graf von Greyerz was William I, who took part in 1100 along with numerous young men from Gruyères in the Crusades.

The last owner of the castle Count, Count Michael von Greyerz, went bankrupt in 1554. The cities of Bern and Fribourg, who had financed his lavish lifestyle could split the county between them. The castle came to Freiburg and was from 1555 to 1814 the headquarters of the Fribourg bailiffs. Until 1848 the castle was then the official residence of the prefect, before it was sold in 1849 to the family Bovy of Geneva. Later the castle was transferred by marriage into the possession of Balland family who used it as a summer residence.

Current usage

In 1938, the Canton of Fribourg bought back the lock and used it as a museum. Since 1993, a foundation for the preservation of the castle and the presentation of collections care.