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Formerly Soubmont, then Sousmont or Submont (because of its location below the mountain), the castle, was badly restored at the end of the nineteenth century, notably at the level of its two towers. We can see on the side facade, at sundown, a window with blazoned mullions and transoms dating from the sixteenth century.
Ulrich de Somont (de Submonte) went with the count of Savoy, Amédée the third, to the second crusade in 1147.
Antoine de Somont, last member of this family, captain of the archers in the Duke of Savoy's guard, received in 1490 investiture of the castle and the land of Somont and Aimavigne from Duchess Blanche, regent of Savoy, with "omnimode" jurisdiction of high, middle and low justice and ultimate penalty. He died without any male child and his only daughter, Huguette de Somont, inherited all his belongings and married Pierre de la Forest, Lord de La Barre (from a family branch coming from the la Forest castle); He therefore became Lord of Somont, and, in 1536, we see this Pierre de la Forest, Lord of Somont and of La Barre pay homage for these two fiefs to the King of France, François the first, who then occupied Savoy. He was the duke of Savoy's Ambassador in France. One of his sons, Charles de la Forest originated the branch of the barons, then counts de Divonne, and the other, Antoine de la Forest, married Philiberte des Terreaux, the Lord of Murs' daughter. His son Jean Antoine de la Forest de Somont, born in 1645 in the Somont castle became abbot of Tamié.
In 1675, Joseph de Grenaud, Lord of Contamine and of la Forest, represents his relative Jean-François de la Forest, Lord of Somont, Murs and Bonvillard, at the nobility meeting in Yenne.
In 1669, Jean-François de la Forest was opposed to the wish of the marquis of Yenne to set up his gibbet on the Arcollières hill, on a spot that had always been within the jurisdiction of Somont. He died, without male descendants, around 1730 and his fief, due to the marriage of his daughter and only heiress, Charlotte de la Forest de Somont, with François de Mareschal de Luciane, passed on to her husband who became lord of Somont.
The Seigneury of Somont was elevated to the status of county in favor of Jacques de Mareschal de Somont, son of the above, on November 23, 1733, by Charles-Emmanuel the third, in consideration of the antiquity of its nobility, and of the services done by his ancestors. He had married Anne de Saint-Séverin, lady of La Barre and of Murs.
The Mareschal Somont family was temporarily dispossessed of its land during the French Revolution: by contract dated 28 Prairial year VI, received by notary Bonnet, in Bourg-en-Bresse, Lady Jeanne-Héléne de Longecombe, widow of François-César Vignod, acquired the estate of Somont for 60,000 francs, and her daughter, Marie-Barbe-Claudine-joséphine de Vignod married count Joseph-Hector de Mareschal de Somont, bringing back to this family the land of its name. Their daughter, Eugenie de Mareschal-Somont, married count Charles Pullini, General Administrator of Savoy from 1823 to 1833. Her daughter, Miss Marie Pullini, sold the estate of Somont in 1879 to count Lodoik de la Forest Divonne who died several years later. The castle was sold then. The arms of the la Forest-Somont were: "Ecartelé de sinople et de gueules à la bande d'or frettée de gueules". The Mareschal-Somont arms were: "d'argent À la bande de gueules chargée de trois coquilles d'argent, qui est de Mareschal-Luciane". (Excerpt from "Mémoires et documents" edited by the "Société Savoisienne d'Histoire et d'Archéologie" volume XLV - 1907).
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