The Historical Background

The simbol of the Count of Biandrate

The Castle of the Counts of Biandrate at San Giorgio Canavese was originally a series of buildings, most of which were built during medieval times for defensive purposes; over the centuries, the building has been radically transformed in line with changing requirements.

Old paintings show a castle with enormous towers, structured into a series of buildings of varying sizes and facing in different directions, perched on the bastions dominating the town. The impressive bulk of the castle's outline today still proudly recalls these ancient feudal times.

The Bishops of Vercelli and Ivrea, the Marquis of Monferrato and perhaps even the Templars ruled over the castle at various times until, in the 13th century, it finally passed into the hands of the Counts of Biandrate.

Since then, the history of the castle has been inseparably linked with the affairs of this important family, of Carolingian descent, whose descendants, through the Counts of Piombia, would include Arduino of Ivrea, King of Italy, and the Counts of the Canavese, in turn antecedents of the Counts of Valperga San Martino e Castellamonte.

One of the most famous Counts of Biandrate was Guido, also known as "Il Grande", who lived in the 11th century. By marrying Isabella of Monferrato, he became a nephew of Pope Callixtus II, brother-in-law of Amedeo III of Savoy, uncle of King Louis VII of France and cousin of Emperor Frederick Barbarossa.

Over the centuries, San Giorgio and its castle became a battlefield between the opposing forces of Savoy and Monferrato, Spain and France. It was repeatedly besieged and almost always resisted the assaults made by powerful armies.

After the Peace of Cherasco in 1631, San Giorgio, like other towns in the Canavese, finally became part of the Savoy dominions and the castle, having lost its defensive role, was gradually transformed into the palace which is still admired today, filled with splendid frescoes and decorations.

During the 19th century the buildings fell into decay and oblivion and, although this caused some damage to the structure, it did at least mean that much of the 18th-century detail survived and has now been made even more attractive by the careful restoration work undertaken by the present owner of the castle.