Loisirs 74
Free · Open access

Château de Buffavent

15th-century fortified manor perched on a natural terrace at Lully (74): trapezoidal main building flanked by four round pepper-pot towers, traces of Genevan cannonballs (1590), listed as a Historic Monument in 1944.

View on map
Château de Buffavent at Lully in the Chablais: 15th-century fortified manor with four round corner towers
TarichaRivularis · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
At a glance
Type
15th-century fortified manor · Listed MH 1944
Access
Visible from outside (private property)
Price
No interior visit
Duration
15 to 30 minutes (exterior view)
Best season
Year-round
Parking
Village of Lully (free)
Town
Lully

Official source →

What is Château de Buffavent

The Château de Buffavent is a 15th-century fortified manor set on a natural terrace about 800 metres north-west of the village of Lully (74890), in the Chablais. Its evocative name reportedly comes from "bouffâ" — to blow in Savoyard dialect — pointing to a wind-exposed site. The trapezoidal main building is about 18.6 m long by 15.8 m wide, with four round corner towers crowned by conical "pepper-pot" roofs, characteristic of 15th-century Savoyard military architecture.

The castle was built by the lords of Langin as a fortified hunting residence, during the expansion phase that peaked in the 15th–16th centuries. In 1590, Genevan soldiers attacked the castle during the wars between Savoy and Genevan Protestantism: the arrow slits of the left tower still bear traces of cannon fire.

The château is private property, not open to the public, but is easily visible from the surrounding paths around Lully. Listed as a Monument Historique in 1944.

Activities

What you can do here

Practical

Practical information

Address
Château de Buffavent, hamlet of Buffavent, 74890 Lully (≈ 800 m north-west of the village) View on map
Coordinates
46.288° N · 6.406° E
Altitude
≈ 500 m (Buffavent terrace)
Opening hours
Exterior view freely accessible year-round. No interior visit (private property). Checked on 10 June 2026.
Prices
No ticketing — interior not open. Exterior view free from the road. Checked on 10 June 2026.
Official site
No dedicated official website. Heritage record on monumentum.fr (PA00118404) and Wikipedia.
Phone
Lully town hall: +33 (0)4 50 71 06 67
Access / Parking
Free parking in the village of Lully. Access to the castle by road or by local paths. From Thonon-les-Bains: ≈ 15 km via the D903 then the D32.
Length of visit
15 to 30 minutes to look at the fortified manor from outside and read about its history. Longer if combined with a country walk.
Audience
Fans of medieval heritage and Savoyard military architecture, photographers.
Accessibility
Exterior view of the Château de Buffavent accessible from the road. No specific facilities. Rural lanes for walks in the surroundings.
Animals
Dogs welcome on a lead on the rural lanes around the Château de Buffavent.
Nearby

Where to eat, drink, stay

A restaurant in Lully?

Hosting visitors of Château de Buffavent ? Appear here.

Become a partner

A bakery, a shop in Lully?

Share hours and specialties with visitors of Château de Buffavent.

Become a partner
Photos

Gallery

Been there? Share your photos — we'll add them to this page with credit. Tag #loisirs74 or email photos@loisirs74.fr

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Can you visit the inside of the Château de Buffavent?

No, the Château de Buffavent is a private property closed to interior visits. The silhouette of the fortified manor and its four pepper-pot towers are clearly visible from the road and the local paths of Lully.

Where is the Château de Buffavent?

The Château de Buffavent stands about 800 m north-west of the village of Lully (74890), in the Bas-Chablais, 15 km from Thonon-les-Bains. GPS: 46.288° N · 6.406° E.

What is the history of the Château de Buffavent?

The Château de Buffavent is a 15th-century fortified manor built by the lords of Langin as a fortified hunting residence. Attacked and taken by the Genevans in 1590 (cannonball marks visible), it was listed as a Historic Monument in 1944.

How much does it cost to visit the Château de Buffavent?

Looking at the Château de Buffavent from outside is free from the public road. There is no interior visit, as the castle is privately owned. Checked on 10 June 2026.

What are the opening hours of the Château de Buffavent?

The exterior view of the Château de Buffavent is freely accessible year-round, 24/7, from the road and the local paths. No scheduled interior visit. Checked on 10 June 2026.

How long should I allow to see the Château de Buffavent?

Allow 15 to 30 minutes to admire the Château de Buffavent from outside, photograph the four pepper-pot towers and read about its history. Longer if you combine it with a country walk.

Where can I park to see the Château de Buffavent?

Free parking in the village of Lully. The Château de Buffavent is then reachable on foot via the road or the local paths, about 800 m from the village.

What else is there to see around the Château de Buffavent?

Around the Château de Buffavent, you can discover the Château d'Avully at Brenthonne (5 km away), the villages of the Bas-Chablais, and the paths leading to Thonon-les-Bains and Lake Geneva.

Featured in our selections
The best castles to visit in Haute-Savoie
Sources

Sources & verification

Multi-source verification at publication. Information may change — confirm with the official operator before travelling.

Published 10 juin 2026·Updated 21/06/26

Directions