Envie è un antico borgo posto all'imbocco della Valle Po, sulla riva sinistra del torrente Ghiandone, assogettato ai signori di Barge, feudatari dei marchesi di Saluzzo. Al centro del paese sorge il Castello di Envie fatto erigere nel 1260 dal Marchese di Saluzzo sotto forma di ricetto a scopo difensivo.
Il ricetto, di forma rettangolare, era suddiviso in due corpi: il Castrum Domini, racchiuso da mura fortificate e da un fossato, ed il Castrum Hominum. Lungo le fortificazioni esterne sorgevano due torri cilindriche d'angolo e torri quadrate, dette di "cortina". Il castello occupava il quadrante sud-occidentale del ricetto.
Distrutto dagli Acaja nel 1336 venne ricostruito nel XV secolo dai Conti Brigherasio per essere danneggiato prima dalle guerre religione del Cinquescento e nuovamente demolito dai Savoia.
Nell'Ottocento venne acquistato dal conte Guasco di Castelletto che lo fece riedificare in stile neogotico ed arredare in modo lussuoso. Nel corso di quegli anni il Castello di Envie ebbe ospiti illustri come Silvio Pellico, Massimo Tapparelli d'Azeglio e il conte Cavour.
Il castello è composto da sette torri ed è circondato da un ampio parco, un tempo all'inglese con un'enorme serra e abbellito da alberi ad alto fusto, piante esotiche, pini secolari, lauri giapponesi e begonie.
Una delle torri è della "del Principe" in quanto nel 1844 vi soggiornò il Principe di Lucca.
Accanto al Castello di Envie si possono intravedere i resti della cinta muraria dell'antico ricetto, con alcune torri ormai in rovina.
Attualmente il Castello, dopo aver ospitato in parte un ristorante, è adibito ad abitazione privata.
Envie Castle - Envie
Envie is an ancient village located at the entrance of the Po Valley, on the left bank of the Ghiandone stream, subjected to the lords of Barge, feudal lords of the Marquis of Saluzzo. At the center of the village stands the Envie Castle built in 1260 by the Marquis of Saluzzo in the form of a shelter for defensive purposes.
The shelter, rectangular in shape, was divided into two bodies: the Castrum Domini, enclosed by fortified walls and a moat, and the Castrum Hominum. Along the external fortifications there were two cylindrical corner towers and square towers, called "cortina". The castle occupied the southwestern quadrant of the shelter.
Destroyed by the Acaja in 1336 it was rebuilt in the fifteenth century by the Counts Brigherasio to be damaged first during the religion wars in the sixteenth century and again demolished by the Savoy.
In the nineteenth century it was purchased by Count Guasco di Castelletto who had it rebuilt in neo-Gothic style and furnished in a luxurious way. During those years the Envie Castle had illustrious guests such as Silvio Pellico, Massimo Tapparelli d'Azeglio and Count Cavour.
The castle consists of seven towers and is surrounded by a large park, once English with a huge greenhouse and adorned with tall trees, exotic plants, old pine trees, Japanese laurels and begonias.
One of the towers is named "del Principe" because in 1844 the Prince of Lucca stayed there.
Next to the Envie Castle you can glimpse the remains of the walls of the old shelter, with some towers now in ruins.
Currently the Castle, after partially hosted a restaurant, is used as a private home.
Envie is an ancient village located at the entrance of the Po Valley, on the left bank of the Ghiandone stream, subjected to the lords of Barge, feudal lords of the Marquis of Saluzzo. At the center of the village stands the Envie Castle built in 1260 by the Marquis of Saluzzo in the form of a shelter for defensive purposes.
The shelter, rectangular in shape, was divided into two bodies: the Castrum Domini, enclosed by fortified walls and a moat, and the Castrum Hominum. Along the external fortifications there were two cylindrical corner towers and square towers, called "cortina". The castle occupied the southwestern quadrant of the shelter.
Destroyed by the Acaja in 1336 it was rebuilt in the fifteenth century by the Counts Brigherasio to be damaged first during the religion wars in the sixteenth century and again demolished by the Savoy.
In the nineteenth century it was purchased by Count Guasco di Castelletto who had it rebuilt in neo-Gothic style and furnished in a luxurious way. During those years the Envie Castle had illustrious guests such as Silvio Pellico, Massimo Tapparelli d'Azeglio and Count Cavour.
The castle consists of seven towers and is surrounded by a large park, once English with a huge greenhouse and adorned with tall trees, exotic plants, old pine trees, Japanese laurels and begonias.
One of the towers is named "del Principe" because in 1844 the Prince of Lucca stayed there.
Next to the Envie Castle you can glimpse the remains of the walls of the old shelter, with some towers now in ruins.
Currently the Castle, after partially hosted a restaurant, is used as a private home.
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