ROYAL CASTLE OF SARRE

The Royal Castle of Saarland is situated in a panoramic position a few kilometres from Aosta, on the top of a hill surrounded by terraced vineyards. Originally, it was a 13th century castle mound belonging to Jacques de Bard, a noble family from Valle d'Aosta who died out in the 14th century. After changing owners many times, it was bought in 1869 by Victor Emmanuel II of Savoy, King of Italy. Restored, refurbished and refurnished by the sovereign, it became his official residence during the long hunting parties he organized in the Grand-Paradis massif. The most spectacular testimony to this function is given by the decoration of the central hall, unique of its kind and made up of thousands of ibex and chamois trophies intertwined on the walls (even though most of the woods are from naturally dead animals). Today it is composed of a rather massive central structure topped by a square tower. During the guided tour, it is possible to admire paintings, sculptures, engravings, precious and curious objects and above all the period furniture, which is the result of the taste of Victor Emmanuel and his son King Humbert I, who was very attached to the manor house. The ground floor is devoted to exhibitions on the Savoy family and hunting, while the sumptuously decorated rooms of the royal apartments are on the first floor. The visit concludes with the chapel, with its sacred objects and the velvet king's prayer-god.