A rich history

I was born in 1622, by the will of Charles de Clermont, in this part of Dauphiné that is called the Drôme des Collines. If my sponsor wanted me in this precise location, overlooking the valley of the Herbasse and the small village of Crépol, it is because previously there was a motte-and-bailey castle there dating back to the 13th century. But at the beginning of the reign of Louis XIII, this illustrious family now needed an elegant residence, abandoning the defensive character of past centuries. Thus, I became the place that the lords of Clermont loved to indulge in the pleasures of hunting.

In 1679, I was ceded to Jean-Baptiste Mistral de Montmirail (ancestor of the writer Frédéric Mistral). Then in 1715, by marriage, I passed into the hands of the Marquis de Marcieu, who kept me until 2010. This family, which saw successive governors of Grenoble and Valence, marked the history of my region. Pierre de Marcieu distinguished himself militarily under Louis XV, and arrested the famous smuggler Mandrin in 1755. He was commanding the royal troops in Grenoble when the revolution broke out. This episode made me a target, and caused me some scars that were not treated until the end of the 19th century. Isabelle de Marcieu brought me back to life in the 1890s / 1900s, after a century of neglect… Unfortunately, this was the last time that I received the care necessary for my advanced age. It was then that in 2010, a young, passionate 24-year-old took the crazy gamble of restoring my former glory, and did everything he could to allow me to continue to transcend time. Since then, he has worked as a family to enhance this rich heritage, to bring it to life, and to share his passion. By visiting us, you will feel the vibrant character of a place with a long historical continuity, and today more welcoming than ever.