Visit Sleeping Beauty's Castle In The Alps In France...

While the current Château de Menthon-Saint-Bernard can be attributed to building work from the 13th to the 19th centuries, records show that the very first fortress on this site was a wooden watch tower built in the 10th century as an observation point for the strategic routes connecting Geneva and Italy and to keep an eye on the boats that moved around Lake Annecy. In 1008, the legendary Saint Bernard de Menthon, who founded the hospice at the Great St Bernard Pass and abbeys in the high mountains and later became patron saint of all Alpine mountaineers, was born in one of the previous iterations of the castle. Since 1180, it has been in the possession of the Menthon family. Under the Menthon family, a castle of three high square towers, linked by round walks and sheltering a large central courtyard, was constructed. Each of the towers took care of observation of different parts of the surrounding lands with the Lake Tower overlooking Lake Annecy, the Central Keep protecting the village and the main road, and the Armory Tower watching over the Pass of Bluffy.

It was not until the Renaissance that the Château de Menthon-Saint-Bernard became something close to the plush and charmingly pretty structure that we associate with the name today. Until then, it remained a rather austere and utilitarian fortress. However, as the seat of the Barony of Menthon, it was slowly transformed and became a sumptuous home with plush apartments taking the place of the old sentry walks and rooms filling up with beautiful furniture, soft furnishings, and elegant details. A whole new wing was then added in 1740, boasting even more wonderful views over the lake from its large windows and adding an impressive 100 square meter grand hall and dining room. Finally, 19th century alterations under Rene de Menthon, who was a great follower of the famous French architect Eugene Viollet-le-Duc, saw the elaborate restyling of the walls, turrets, interior, and inner courtyard that leant the overall romantic appearance for which the castle is now so admired. So perfect and charming were these changes that when Walt Disney was on holiday in the area, he immediately fell in love and came to use the Château de Menthon-Saint-Bernard as one of his main inspirations for Sleeping Beauty's iconic castle.

As beautiful as the exterior of the castle maybe and as much as the approach to the building is extraordinary, the scale and plushness of the interiors will also astound visitors. There are over 105 rooms in the castle today, spread across four storeys and over several hundred square meters. The elegantly appointed and beautifully decorated rooms feature works of art and antique pieces of furniture and it is a true feast for the eyes. Highlights include the impressive and massive aforementioned great hall, the 13th century castle kitchens, the Countess' Bedroom, the examples of Louis XIII and Louis XIV furniture that will wow interiors lovers, the Gobelins tapestry from 1730, and the astounding library that boasts more than 12,000 works from before 1800 (with works on parchment, sheepskin, goatskin, painted illuminations from Medieval monks, and more). However, what really makes the experience to the Château de Menthon-Saint-Bernard so special and unique is the well-outfitted troop of actors in historical garb who occupy the castle when visitors are exploring the grounds and act out life in the castle as it once would have been; perfect for fully immersing yourself in the fantasy of this magical fairytale palace.

So, if you have found a wonderful vacation rental in Annecy or a vacation rental in the Rhône-Alpes and if you are spending some time exploring this impossibly scenic and truly lovely part of France, then be sure to come and pay a visit to this most iconic and stunning of French castles. Discover for yourself what it was that won over Walt Disney so thoroughly and just why it became the model for the imagined fairytale palace of all of our collective dreams...

Château de Menthon Saint-Bernard
Allée du Château
74290 Menthon-Saint-Bernard
+33 7 81 74 39 72
contact@chateau-de-menthon.com

Opening Hours:
The castle is open from the 5th of April until the 15th of November each year.
April to June and September to November – Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays & bank holidays – 2pm to 6pm
July & August – Daily – noon to 7pm

Ticket Prices:
Adults (16 years and over), €9.50
Children (6-16), €5
Free for children under 6.
Access to just the gardens, €2

Please note, unfortunately due to the historic nature of the property and the old staircase, the castle is not readily accessible for those with mobility issues.