Avigliana Castle

Avigliana Castle, known locally as Castello di Avigliana, is a historic medieval fortress situated on the summit of Mount Pezzulano in Avigliana, Piedmont, Italy. Overlooking the town and the nearby Avigliana lakes at the mouth of the Susa Valley, the site stands approximately 25 kilometers from Turin. While legend attributes the earliest fortification on this peak to Cleph, King of the Lombards, in 574, the current structure was officially established in 924 by Arduin Glaber, the Margrave of Turin. The castle served as a critical defensive stronghold against Saracen invasions during the tenth century and functioned as the last major barrier before Turin for forces invading from France.

The castle holds immense historical significance as a favored residence for the Counts of Savoy after they acquired Piedmont in 1091. It served as a strategic base for Amadeus III, Count of Savoy, during his expansion efforts toward Turin in the twelfth century. Notably, his son and heir, Humbert III, was born within these walls in August 1136. Throughout the centuries, the fortress endured frequent assaults and looting due to its valuable location, eventually falling into disuse and being demolished in 1691.

Today, Avigliana Castle exists only as a ruin, with remnants of its mighty bulk and high towers still visible on the hilltop. Despite its dilapidated condition, the site remains an important landmark that offers panoramic views of the morainic hill of Rivoli and the famous Sacra di San Michele. As one of the oldest castles in the Piedmont region, it stands as a testament to the area's turbulent military past and its central role in the development of the House of Savoy's power in northern Italy.