The first sovereign of Italy, a great lover of the mountains, gave a great impulse to the development of these places, which became a destination for many tourists.
Built at the behest of Queen Margherita of Savoy, with its pointed turrets that emerge from the woods, the castle seems to have come out of a fairy tale. The construction is inspired by models of the late Middle Ages, but dates back to the early twentieth century. Equipped with state-of-the-art technical equipment for the time, it is surrounded by a large park where the outbuildings are located and a rock garden rich in botanical species. The interior retains part of the original furnishings: paintings, stained glass windows, boiseries, coffered ceilings and furniture made according to the taste of the sovereign, evoked in all rooms by the flower that bears her name. It stands at the foot of Colle della Ranzola in the locality called "Belvedere", due to the splendid view that from there dominates the whole valley up to the Lyskamm glacier.
The sundial , built on the facade in 1922, bears the greeting words already reported on a Cogne sundial from 1915: "Sit patriae aurea quaevis" - "Let every hour be golden for the country". The wish, unfortunately, would not have been realized by the dramatic events that took place in Italy in that year.
The kitchens , located in a building not far from the castle, are connected to the dining room by an underground Decauville.
The botanical garden , inaugurated in 1990 in the park at the foot of the manor, consists of rocky flowerbeds with botanical species typical of the alpine environment.
Other dependencies of the castle are the Villa Belvedere, originally used as a guesthouse and royal gendarmerie, and the small house known as Romitaggio Carducci, dedicated to the poet who was a devoted admirer and singer of the Queen.
Price: Full price: €5.00 - Reduced price: €3.50
From October to March: from 10 to 13 and from 14 to 17, from Tuesday to Sunday
From April to September: from 9 to 19, every day
Location Belvedere 11025 Gressoney-Saint-Jean
Telephone: +39 0125 355396