The castle of towers and frescoes
In the central Aosta Valley, on a small hill surrounded by meadows and orchards, the Castello di Fénis is the most famous and photographed castle of the valley, with its fairytale appearance of a medieval fortress: a double ring of crenellated walls, numerous square and round towers with pointed roofs, battlements and loopholes. It was built in the fourteenth century by Aimone di Challant, a member of the powerful Challant family, the most important noble family of the Aosta Valley, who transformed an earlier fortification into an elegant residence, more for display and prestige than for defence, since it stands not on a rocky spur but on a gentle slope.
The heart of the castle is its splendid inner courtyard, with a semicircular stone staircase and two tiers of wooden balconies, decorated with fifteenth-century frescoes attributed to the workshop of the painter Giacomo Jaquerio: the most famous depicts Saint George killing the dragon to free the princess, and around it are painted wise men and prophets holding scrolls with moral sayings in old French. Inside, the rooms are furnished with period furniture, and the visit includes the kitchens, the armoury, the chapel with frescoes, the hall of honour and the bedrooms, which give an idea of the life of a noble family in the late Middle Ages. In the castle also is the Museo dell'Arredamento Valdostano, with furniture from the Aosta Valley.
Tip: buy the castle ticket in advance in summer; photograph the castle from the meadows in front of it.
Where it is
More things to see in Aosta Valley
Where to stay near Fénis
Tours and activities nearby
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