Montorge Castle

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Montorge Castle is a ruined hill castle on Mont d’Orge hill near Sion in Valais, Switzerland. It was built around 1230 by Aymon de Chablais, a member of the Savoy family, to oversee routes into the Upper Valais. The name Montorge may come from the word for barley or from a word meaning pride. The castle’s high position gave it a commanding view of the valley.

Originally in Savoy hands, the castle soon involved the Bishop of Sion and played a role in 13th–century conflicts. A 1260 border agreement placed the frontier along the Morge river, but the castle was on the Savoy side. The bishop forced its capture in 1264, but he did not destroy it and even had it renovated and garrisoned.

In the 14th century, fights between upper Valais forces and the bishop escalated, and Savoyards retook Sion. By the early 15th century, the Raron family gained influence in Valais politics, and during the Raron affair the castle became a target. In 1417, Montorge was destroyed along with nearby Beauregard, Soie and Tourbillon castles and was never rebuilt.

Today the ruins are a Swiss historical monument of regional importance. From 2002 to 2005, archaeology and masonry work improved the site and made access easier. The ruins sit at about 782 meters above sea level on the summit of Mont d’Orge, about 2 kilometers west of Sion, with wide views over the valley. You can reach them by foot via well-marked trails from the village of Montorge.

What remains includes the eastern entrance with its ditch and drawbridge, the gate and the big tower on the west side (about 15 meters high; its foundations were found recently). Inside the courtyard you can still see the lower floor of the central building, a water cistern, and two southern annexes. The southern wall is mostly preserved, while the northern wall is less intact.