Suzey Castle

Access

The castle can be reached by the following access routes:

• from Pont-Saint-Martin with the path (T2,505mD+,1h30')

Introduction

The Castle of Suzey, located above the hamlet of Ivéry in the municipality of Pont-Saint-Martin in the Aosta Valley, is a place that evokes stories and legends in a spectacular natural setting. Although reduced to ruins, the castle retains a timeless charm that recalls the imagery of Irish castles, solitary and shrouded in wild vegetation.

Description

It probably dates back to the 12th century, as suggested by the remains of the cylindrical tower, a distinctive feature of many medieval castles in the Aosta Valley. In the 13th century, the structure was enlarged with the addition of a living quarters. The walls, irregular in order to follow the unevenness of the terrain, enclosed spaces functional to defence and daily life: the two-storey guardhouse, the dwelling body on the north side and other structures that today remain only in fragmentary traces. The main entrance, with a carved stone archivolt and a mullioned window above, now without its central column, reveals fine architectural details. There is no lack of embrasures and a quadrangular window in light-coloured stone, evidence of a time when functionality merged with aesthetics.
The castle belonged to the noble Vallaise family, lords of vast territories in the Valle del Lys and lower Valle d'Aosta. Mentioned in feudal documents from the 14th century onwards, Suzey was the scene of obscure and adventurous events. One of the most famous stories concerns Domenico and Gottofredo di Vallaise, who in 1351 were the protagonists of a kidnapping against a merchant from Ivrea, Pietro di Stria, to extort a ransom. This episode, although macabre, fuels the charm of the walls that still seem to guard the secrets of the past.
Today, Suzey Castle is a ruin accessible to hikers, located in a protected area within the Holay pond nature reserve, known for its floristic biodiversity. The romantic and decadent atmosphere of the site makes it an atmospheric destination for those who wish to immerse themselves in history and nature.
Curiosities and legends enrich the experience of those who visit Suzey: it is said that its ruins have often been shrouded in mystery and that, in the darkest nights, the echoes of the past can still resound through the stones. The ruins offer a unique spectacle, especially at sunset, when the warm light of the sun seems to bring the ancient walls to life, inviting the visitor to imagine the events that have taken place over the centuries.
This castle, though silent and abandoned, retains the ability to tell stories and inspire anyone who chooses to lose themselves in its fragments of history.