Manoir de Novel
Manor
Manoir de Novel, located in Annecy (Département 74), is a Renaissance château built in the 16th century. The monument is currently closed to visitors.
Key facts
- Type
- Manor
- Period
- Renaissance (16th century)
- Location
- Annecy, Département 74, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
- Visit
- Closed to visitors
- GPS
- 45.9183, 6.1347
- Mérimée Reference
- PA00118357
Built between the 14th and 15th centuries on the heights of Annecy, the Manoir de Novel embodies the sober elegance of medieval Savoyard nobility, with its austere volumes and proud silhouette overlooking the Annecy basin.
History
Perched in a green setting on the edge of the town of Annecy, the Manoir de Novel is one of the rare examples of Savoyard seigneurial architecture from the late Middle Ages. Built in the 14th and 15th centuries, it belongs to the generation of aristocratic residences that flourished in the States of Savoy thanks to growing prosperity and a refined art of living, between residential fortress and pleasure house. What makes Novel so unique is the way it combines two contradictory ambitions: the defensive robustness inherited from the late Middle Ages and a quest for pleasure that already heralds the Renaissance. Its sober facades, punctuated by the mullioned openings typical of the Alpine region, reveal a sense of composition that was rare for the period. The compact, well-proportioned volumes are reminiscent of the fortified houses that still dot the shores of Lake Annecy and the neighbouring Genevan area. To visit the Manoir de Novel is to immerse yourself in the intimate atmosphere of a residence that has survived six centuries without losing its soul. Lovers of medieval history will discover traces of a refined Savoyard society, attached to its lands and privileges, while architecture enthusiasts will appreciate the stylistic coherence of a building that has been protected as a Historic Monument since 1975. The natural setting further enhances the charm of the place. Annecy, with its long-established reputation as the "Venice of the Alps", offers Novel Manor an exceptional setting, with the snow-capped peaks of the Pre-Alps as a backdrop, the crystal-clear light of the nearby lake, and lush vegetation enveloping the building in a gentle intimacy. Novel is an essential stop-off point for visitors with an interest in heritage, as they discover the rich architectural heritage of the Haute-Savoie department.
Architecture
The manor house at Novel is in the tradition of the Savoyard fortified houses of the 14th-15th centuries, characterised by a compact, generally rectangular layout built around a main building with limestone rubble walls finished with lime. The thick masonry, typical of medieval alpine construction, provides good thermal insulation and greater resistance to the harsh Pre-Alps climate. The roof, with its steeply pitched gables in keeping with Savoyard custom, was traditionally covered with lauzes or flat tiles, and its pronounced overhangs effectively protected the façades from damp. The façades are characterised by a sober architectural vocabulary, enhanced by meticulous detailing: carved limestone window surrounds, probably mullions in the original style, sculpted modillions under the cornices. The openings, modest in size on the lower levels for defensive reasons, are enlarged on the upper floors in a stylistic evolution that can be seen in many contemporary manor houses in the Genevan and Chablais regions. A stone spiral staircase, housed in a turret outside the building or inside a dedicated stairwell, provided vertical access to the different levels, as was common practice in this type of building. The manor house's most outstanding features, in particular its original medieval structures, are protected by partial Historic Monument listing. The ensemble is a coherent testimony to the skills of Savoyard masons at the end of the Middle Ages, who were able to combine economy of means with discreet elegance in regions where the local limestone was easy to cut and offered excellent possibilities for use.
Related Figures
Seigneurs médiévaux anonymes de la famille fondatrice (XIVe siècle), premiers bâtisseurs du manoirAmédée VIII de Savoie (1383-1451), suzerain sous lequel le comté de Savoie connut son apogée territoriale, contexte de l'édification du manoirÉvêques de Genève installés à Annecy dès 1535, dont certains furent liés aux grandes familles propriétaires de manoirs dans la régionSaint François de Sales (1567-1622), figure spirituelle majeure d'Annecy, dont l'action rayonna sur toute la noblesse savoyarde propriétaire de tels domainesPropriétaires bourgeois du XIXe siècle, responsables de l'entretien de l'édifice après la RévolutionInspecteurs des Monuments Historiques ayant instruit le dossier d'inscription en 1975
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Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Manoir de Novel located?
Manoir de Novel is located in Annecy, Département 74 department, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, France.
When was Manoir de Novel built?
Manoir de Novel dates back to a period built during the Renaissance (16th century).
Is Manoir de Novel open to visitors?
Manoir de Novel is currently closed to visitors.