Château des Comtes de Challes

Château des Comtes de Challes is a historic castle in Challes-les-Eaux, Savoie, France, that has been converted into a hotel-restaurant and event venue. The building dates back to the 13th century, when it was a winegrower's farm, and was transformed into a fortified castle in 1450 by the Counts of Challes. It remained in the Challes family until 1594, when it passed to Louis Milliet, baron de Faverges. The Milliet family held the estate for generations, and Jean-Jacques Rousseau gave music lessons there to two Milliet de Challes ladies. After the French Revolution, the château was sold as national property and acquired by Jacques-Antoine Balmain; his daughter married Dr. Louis Domenget, who discovered a sulfurous water spring on the grounds in 1841, leading to the development of Challes-les-Eaux as a spa town. In the 19th century the château was transformed into a hotel by the Société des eaux minérales de Challes. In 2002, Gérard Trèves purchased the property and continued operating it as a hotel-restaurant under the name Château des Comtes de Challes. Today, the hotel is run by his son Florian Trèves and is classified as a three-star hotel. It offers 58 rooms and suites, a restaurant, a wellness area with massages, a swimming pool, and event spaces for weddings and seminars. The estate includes a 2-hectare park with a unique arboretum and panoramic views of the mountains. The château is a member of the family of historic French castle-hotels and is marketed as a charming hotel in Savoie, near Chambéry.

The site of Château des Comtes de Challes was originally a winegrower's farm dating back to the 11th century. In 1450, the Counts of Challes, invited to a jousting tournament in Chambéry by the Green Count, had a fortified castle built above the historic wine cellar. Étienne de Challes is credited with this first construction. The château remained in the Challes family until 1594, when Louis de Challes died without a direct heir, and the estate passed to Louis Milliet, baron de Faverges. The Milliet family, an ancient Savoyard family originally from Geneva, held the seigneurie of Challes, passing it from father to son: Louis, then Hector, then Jean Louis, then Jean Baptiste, then Henri Joseph Milliet de Challes, the last of his branch, who died in 1777. During the time of the Marquis de Challes, Jean-Jacques Rousseau came to give music lessons to two Milliet de Challes ladies: Catherine Françoise (future Marquise Costa de Beauregard) and Gasparde, whom he describes in his Confessions. After the death of the last Marquis de Challes, the château passed to the elder branch, the Milliet de Faverges. During the French Revolution, the last châtelain fled, and the château was sold as national property. It was acquired by Jacques-Antoine Balmain, a judge at the Court of Appeal of Grenoble and former steward of the deposed marquis, by contract of 5 Thermidor Year IV. Balmain's daughter married Dr. Louis Domenget, physician to the King of Sardinia, professor of medicine, chemistry and botany, and syndic of the commune. On 11 April 1841, Domenget discovered a sulfurous water spring on the grounds, capable of treating respiratory and joint ailments. This discovery changed the destiny of the commune, which was renamed Challes-les-Eaux in 1872. Domenget sold the château and the waters to the Société des eaux minérales de Challes, which transformed the château into a hotel, built a building around the keep, and renamed the ensemble Hôtel du Château, while operating the thermal baths. In 2002, the château was purchased by Gérard Trèves, who continued to operate it as a hotel-restaurant under the name Château des Comtes de Challes. Today, the hotel is classified as three-star and is managed by Florian Trèves, son of Gérard Trèves. The property features 58 rooms and suites, a restaurant, a wellness area, a swimming pool, and a 2-hectare park with an arboretum, offering panoramic views of the mountains. It is marketed as a charming hotel in Savoie, near Chambéry, and hosts weddings, seminars and other events.

• 2002

  Gérard Trèves purchases the château and continues operating it as a hotel-restaurant under the name Château des Comtes de Challes.

• 1872

  The commune is renamed Challes-les-Eaux due to the spa waters.

• 1841

  Dr. Louis Domenget discovers a sulfurous water spring on the grounds on 11 April.

• 1777

  Henri Joseph Milliet de Challes, last of his branch, dies; château passes to the elder Milliet de Faverges branch.

• 1594

  Estate passes to Louis Milliet, baron de Faverges, after the death of Louis de Challes without direct heir.

• 1450

  Fortified castle built by the Counts of Challes above the historic wine cellar.

A historic family-run château-hotel offering charming accommodation, gastronomy, wellness and event hosting in the Savoie region near Chambéry.

• Hotel accommodation

  58 rooms and suites in the Demeure du Parc, Orangerie, or main building.

• Restaurant

  Gastronomic dining with colorful cuisine and wine evenings.

• Wellness and massages

  Massage and wellness services including Swedish, deep tissue, Ayurvedic, hot stone, and more.

• Event hosting

  Weddings, seminars, and receptions in a historic setting.

• Swimming pool

  On-site pool for guests.

1. 1Official website homepagechateaudescomtesdechalles.com
2. 2History pagechateaudescomtesdechalles.com
3. 3Services pagechateaudescomtesdechalles.com
4. 4Wikidatawikidata.org
5. 5Wikipedia (French)fr.wikipedia.org