Saxon Castle
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| Saxon Castle | |
|---|---|
| Saxon in Switzerland | |
 Saxon Castle | |
| Site information | |
| Condition | Ruined |
| Location | |
  Saxon Castle  Saxon Castle | |
| Coordinates | 46°08′35″N 7°10′39″E / 46.14297°N 7.17757°E |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1259 |
Saxon Castle is a ruined castle in the municipality of Saxon of the Canton of Valais in Switzerland.
The noble Saxon family first appear in historical records from 1162 to 1178, in service to the Counts of Savoy.[1] In 1263 Peter II of Savoy established the vogtei of Saxon-Sembrancher with the seat of the bailiff in a small tower near Saxon. In 1279 Phillip of Savoy built a large, circular tower near the existing castle to protect Savoy lands from the Bishop of Sion. This tower, together with nearby Saillon Castle guarded the valley. The bailiff of Saxon-Sembrancher moved into the tower.[2] The outer walls and defenses were still under construction in 1284/85.[3]
The office of Bailiff of Saxon-Sembrancher was held by the de Saxon family until their extinction in the middle of the 14th century. For the next century the office was held by various nobles as a fief of the Savoy family.[2] During the 1475 invasion of Lower Valais during the Burgundian Wars by Upper Valais the castle was attacked and burned.[3] While the large round tower survived, the site was abandoned and the vogtei was absorbed into the Vogtei of Saint-Maurice.[2]
