Castello di Issogne

About the museum

The castle of Issogne stands at less than 400 metres above sea level along the Dora Baltea. On the site there was a Roman farmhouse; from the mid-12th century a fortified house stood there, later renewed in 1399 by Ibleto di Challant and profoundly transformed by the prior Giorgio di Challant, a refined patron of architectural changes and decorations.

From the sober, austere exterior one passes into an interior of great richness: the courtyard with coats of arms, the lunettes of the portico with lively painted scenes of everyday life, the garden and the pomegranate fountain, built in the 16th century at the centre of the courtyard. The ensemble is considered an important example of late Gothic art in the Alpine territories, at the transition between the late Middle Ages and the Renaissance.

In the 19th century the collector and painter Vittorio Avondo bought the castle and restored it to its former splendour, furnishing it with period furniture and objects. A recent display dedicated to Avondo, enriched by some paintings of the period, tells this phase of the castle's history. Today the residence belongs to the Regione Valle d'Aosta and is visited on guided tours at fixed times.

Highlights

• Courtyard with frescoes and coats of arms
• Lunettes of the portico with scenes of everyday life
• Pomegranate fountain
• Low rooms and 19th-century furnishings
• Display dedicated to Vittorio Avondo

Permanent exhibition

• Percorso di visita del castello e allestimento su Vittorio Avondo – The guided visit covers the courtyard, the lunettes, the low rooms and the furnished rooms, with a display dedicated to the collector Vittorio Avondo.

Operated by

Regione autonoma Valle d'Aosta

Visitors per year

approx. 38,835

Admission & discounts

Reduced ticket for young people aged 19 to 25, for paying groups of 25 people, for groups with a licensed tourist guide and for holders of agreements (FAI, Touring Club Italiano, Aosta Valley Card, Forte di Bard ticket, combined ticket “Aosta archeologica”). Free admission up to age 18, for people with certified disabilities and a companion, for school parties, for ICOM members, journalists and holders of the Abbonamento Musei Piemonte/Valle d'Aosta or Lombardia/Valle d'Aosta. Online purchase costs a €1 advance sales fee per ticket; six-month Culture Cards are available.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The castle has architectural barriers: people with physical disabilities can visit only part of it, on the ground floor. Accessible toilets are in the municipal car park in front of the castle.

Kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Stroller-friendly: not available

For families, the treasure hunt “Le avventure di Charlotte” is offered in the Aosta Valley castles (11 April–15 November 2026). Pushchairs cannot be used inside the castle and are left in the custody of the ticket office.

Getting there & parking

From the A5 motorway, exit at Verrès and follow the signs for Issogne; the castle is well signposted and stands in the centre of the village.

Amenities & dining

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit