The Castello di Saint-Germain, a medieval fortress amid alpine peaks and overlooking a precipice, at Montjovet in the Aosta Valley, Italy. Now in ruins, the castle once controlled traffic using an ancient Roman road and Christian pilgrimage route from France. It was built by the Montjovet or Mongioveto family 656 metres (2,152 ft) above sea level, on a rocky crag that had been occupied in Neolithic times and was known to the Romans as Mons Jovis.
Montjovet, Valle d'Aosta, Italy: the medieval Castello di Saint-Germain was founded in a strategic location overlooking the gorge carved by the Dora Baltea river, and with the main road driven by the Romans through the alpine Aosta Valley in clear view below - which allowed its owners to levy tolls on travellers and pilgrims. The fortress, overlooking a precipice, was built by the Montjovet or Mongioveto family 656 meters (2,152 ft) above sea level, on a rocky crag that had been occupied in Neolithic times and was known to the Romans as Mons Jovis. The oldest part of the structure is the central tower or keep, 19 m (62 ft) high, with the outer walls built later and on different levels, to adapt to the land's natural contours. The walls feature stone arches and large medieval windows, but there is also significant evidence of major 16th century rebuilding, with a bastion added on the north side of the walls and mouldings and other decoration in Renaissance style. The castle was owned for a time by the valley's powerful Challant family and was twice owned by the House of Savoy, first in the 13th century and again in the early 15th century. It was garrisoned in 1438, but after 1661, when the troops were transferred to the fortress at Bard, the castle was partly dismantled to prevent it being used by enemy militias. The surviving remains then fell into decay and entry to the ruins is now prohibited because of the danger of collapse. In this image, the fortress is seen from the south against a backdrop of higher peaks partly shrouded in mist and low cloud.
Size: 4256px × 2832px
Location: Montjovet, Valle d'Aosta, Italy.
Photo credit: © Terence Kerr / Alamy / Afripics
License: Royalty Free
Model Released: No
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