Tour Carrée de Montmélian

Gazing upon these weathered stones, one might dismiss the Tour Carrée de Montmélian as merely a crumbling ruin. But let your imagination soar back to the early 13th century. The Tour Carrée de Montmélian was a powerful statement of the Vernon family. It was built around 1200, a solid rectangular structure. The Tour Carrée de Montmélian was part of their manoir, their seat of power in this strategic location. Richard de Vernon, the first lord of Montmélian, had received this land from King Philippe Auguste. It was compensation for lands lost in the king’s struggles with the Anglo-Normans. The Tour Carrée de Montmélian stands as a testament to this historical power play. The Vernons held sway here for nearly a century, their influence radiating from this very spot. Imagine the activity within these now-ruined walls. The clatter of armor, the murmur of hushed conversations, and the echoes of feasts celebrating victories. But the fortunes of families, like stones, can crumble. By 1283, the Vernon line had died out. The Tour Carrée de Montmélian eventually met a violent end. During the Wars of Religion in the late 16th century, it was severely damaged. Abandoned and neglected, the once proud Tour Carrée de Montmélian became a quarry. Stones were taken to build other structures, leaving it in the state you see today. Even in ruins, the Tour Carrée de Montmélian whispers tales of power, loss, and the passage of time.