Château de Miolans

Saint-Pierre-d'Albigny, France, France

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Château de Miolans, located in Saint-Pierre-d'Albigny, France, is a medieval fortress perched on a rocky ridge overlooking the confluence of the Arc and Isère rivers in the Savoy region.

The site has been occupied since the 4th century, with fortifications first mentioned in 1083 by the Miolans family, who extended the castle over the centuries. In the 16th century, ownership passed to the Counts of Savoy, who transformed the fortress into a prison, famously known as the "Bastille of the Alps," housing notable prisoners including the Marquis de Sade.

The castle operated as a prison until the French Revolution and later fell into ruin before being restored in the 19th and 20th centuries. Today, it is a classified historical monument open to visitors, featuring military architecture such as battlements, dungeons named after the afterlife stages, a guardroom, and terraces with panoramic views of the surrounding Alpine peaks including Mont Blanc.

The fortress offers a unique glimpse into medieval Savoy's military and penal history combined with spectacular natural scenery.