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This castle stands in the municipality of Fènis and is one of the most famous medieval manors in the whole Region. Known for its scenic architecture, with the double crenellated walls enclosing the central building and the towers, this fortress is also of the major tourist attractions in Valle d’Aosta. It is not located, as usually happens, on the top of a promontory, but on a slight hillock. Its function, despite its stronghold-like appearance, was solely that of the prestigious seat of the Challant family.

Already existing in the XIII century, the castle of Fénis acquired its final look between the XIII and the XV century, after several modification and extensions made by the powerful Challant family.

The castle features a pentagonal plan; the corners are equipped with round turrets, except for the south-west one, which has a massive tower, and the south one, which features a similar square structure. The keep is enclosed in a double wall system, with several guard towers and walkways. The manor can be accessed through the square tower.
It has been almost completely renovated and it is now possible to take guided tours inside it. At the moment, only the ground floor and the first floor can be visited, through various halls, kitchens and bedrooms, all equipped with fireplaces. On the ground floor, there are the armoury and the dining rooms, the pantry, the kitchen, a study and the tax office; on the first floor, there’s the chapel with the reception room and the halls reserved to the counts.

The room identified as the “tribunal” features as a symbol of justice, while the chapel is full of beautifully-crafted frescoes.
Another source of attraction is the elaborate set of balconies (closed to the public to safeguard their magnificent frescoes) with a dedicated staircase overlooking the entrance courtyard. The inner courtyard, with its semicircular staircase and wooden balconies, is decorated with valuable frescoes depicting St. George killing the dragon and a group of sages and prophets bearing scrolls with proverbs and famous quotes in ancient French; on the eastern wall, there are painting of the Annunciation to the Blessed Virgin Mary and Saint Christopher.

Another attraction of the castle is its furniture dating back to the XV and XVI centuries, neatly arranged in the “Museum of Valle d’Aosta furniture”, opened in 1936 by the Regional Administration. Every single piece of furniture was strategically placed as if the castle was still inhabited.

Today, Fènis castle belong to the Valle d’Aosta Region; nearby, there is a parking area also equipped for motorhomes, just a 15-minute walk from the castle.

This post is also available in: Italiano (Italian)