Quart Castle – between art and ancient history

History and description

Built in 1185 by order of Jacques de la Porte de Saint Ours, Quart Castle, located in the village of Vollein, is a complex of several buildings. Its oldest part is the trapezoidal tower, enclosed within fortified walls and strategically placed on a rocky outcrop to control communication routes and defend against foreign attacks. Over the centuries, it passed into the hands of various owners such as the Savoy, the Lachis, and the Perrone families. The structure was enriched with a castle chapel decorated with stuccoes by Giovanni Gabuti and a Great Hall with ancient frescoes. Later acquired by the Municipality of Quart, it was sold to a private family who turned it into a farm, before finally being transferred to the Region of Valle d’Aosta in 1951.

Curiosities

Among the discoveries are a cycle of frescoes dedicated to Alexander the Great, with references to those in the Collegiate Church of Sant’Orso and the mosaic of Aosta Cathedral. Beneath the castle, Neolithic tombs were also found, considered among the oldest traces of settlement in the Aosta Valley. The site is also linked to the legend of a woman unjustly executed, whose ghost is said to wander the castle, appearing at one of its windows. From the castle, visitors can also reach the hermitage of Blessed Emeric of Quart, believed to be his place of solitude, prayer, and meditation, where some claim to see stones marked by the imprint of his knees.

Access

Currently closed for restoration and archaeological research, the castle is not open to visitors. Upon reopening, it is expected to host the Ethnographic Museum of the Aosta Valley.

How to reach it

The site can only be reached by car, taking the A5 motorway towards Aosta Est and then following the road to Villair di Quart and Fournaille, where parking is available before continuing on foot along the path to the castle.

Home to an invaluable historical and artistic heritage, Quart Castle is one of the most fascinating monuments in the Aosta Valley and an unmissable stop among the region’s highlights.

Photo credits: Agmonsnir (Wikipedia) - Licensed by CC 4.0