The history of Champdor and its surroundings
The history of Champdor is inseparable from the history of its castle and the surrounding Hauteville plateau. The history of the surrounding of Champdor During the Secondary Period, sixty-five million years ago, sediment deposited at the bottom of the Tethys (which at this time covered a large part of the territory) formed the limestone plateau of the Champdor area. Prehistoric men lived on this plateau since the Magdalian Era, 10,000 years ago. They fed themselves by hunting, and their main prey was the marmot. This flint knife found in Mazières woods is evidence of their presence during Neolithic Era. A rupestral drawing from the Bronze and Iron Ages has been discovered in Nantuy, a part of Hauteville's lands. Many artifacts from these periods have also been found in La Balme de Gondran. The names of several locations, for instance Brénod, attest to Celtic presence in this area. According to some historians, Champdor's etymology could also be Celtic. Being difficult to access, the Bugey was not invaded during the big invasions that marked the first millenium. In 1077, the Bugey was annexed to the House of Savoy and stayed Savoyard for 6 centuries. The counts of Savoy assigned large territories to the abbeys. Meyriat's Charterhouse and the Cisterian Abbey of Saint-Sulpice had a strong influence on the local life during the Middle Ages. Many castles rose to the skies. Amongst them, the castles of Aranc, Longecombe or Lompnes were the most influential. Champdor's castle is more recent, as attested by its history. On January 16, 1601, the region became French by the treaty of Lyon. In fact, Charles-Emmanuel I, Duke of Savoy, refused to surrender la Bresse to the King of France as he was required to by the pact of Vervins. However, he was defeated and forced to surrender to Henry IV le Bugey, le Varomey and le Pays de Gex in addition to La Bresse. Following the French Revolution, Champdor became the Commune it is today. At the beginning of the 20th century, because of its favorable climate, the rural region became one of the most famous rest resort in Europe. In August 1900, the first sanitarium of Hauteville (today, the Medical Center Felix Mangini) opened. This was soon followed by several others. The period between the two world wars saw a great influx of tuberculosis patients into the Hauteville plateau from across France and Europe. The lodging capacity of the resort rose to 2,500 beds. However, later, the decline of tuberculosis forced the Hauteville resort to diversify its medical activities. The high quality limestone of Hauteville plateau allowed for the development of a powerful stone industry. Since the end of the 19th century, limestone of Champdor-Hauteville has been used for many prestigious buildings all over the world, including the Empire state Building in New York and The Imperial Palace Meiji in Tokyo. Like its neighbors Glières or Vercors, Hauteville plateau offered the Resistance one of its bastions. The chief of the Secret Army (General Delestraint) hired many resistants in the area. The first Maquis, created to welcome young Frenchmen who refused to join the force labor camps in Germany, were located in Gorges farm. One of the famous demonstrations of the Resistance, the Parade of November 11, 1943, took place in Oyonnax. This defiance of the Germans created a considerable stir in the whole world. The resistants from Hauteville Plateau were hired for the historical landing of June 6, 1944. At the end of the 20th century, the decline of agriculture, the disappearance of tuberculosis and the architectural use of steel and glass forced the region to look elsewhere for its sustenance. The solution was found in the diversification of the medical activities, the development of wood industries and sport activities. History of Champdor, by Mr. Louis Guy The Gallo-Roman period Several artifacts from the Gallo-Roman period have been discovered in the area surrounding Champdor, especially in Valromey and Combe du Val. In the Hauteville plateau, some archeological sites at Corlier and Mazières have also been identified. According to some historians, the name Champdor could have originated from Chandouro or Campus Dubrius. The latter could, in turn, be the translation of Dubreuil' field (Champ Dubreuil). The Carolingian period Champdor is located in the small province of Bugey, which probably sprung up around the year 1000. These lands were previously part of the Empire of Charlemagne. In 817, they belonged to Burgondie (province of Lotharingie) and in 870, they were allotted to Charles le Chauve as a consequence of the treaty of Merseen. Around 900, they belonged to the Second Kingdom of Bourgogne allocated to Carloman. The Feudal period When the Bugey became a province of The Empire, the big feudal families sharing this land, rose in power. At this time, Champdor was under either the Coligny family founded by Manasses I around 863, or the House of Savoy founded by Garnier in 925. The history of this period is relatively obscure. However, there is a mention of Champdor in a document of the Meyriat's Charterhouse in 1198 where the Archbishop of Lyon, Renaud du Forez, gave the monks the right to vote and equal representation in Champdor's church. The first seal of Champdor dates back to the 13th century: it belonged to a chaplain and was found on the end of a document regarding a transaction between the inhabitants of Corcelles and the Meyriat's prior. Since December 15, 1318, when Amédée V De Savoy transferred the seignory to Jean de Luyrieux, more material about this period is available. Champdor remained in the Luyrieux family for the next 200 years (1318-1516) except for a 12-year interruption (1479-1491) when the lands were sold to Hugonin de Montfalcon and Claude de Montferrand. The Renaissance In 1491, Claude de Luyrieux reacquired Champdor. This was then, handed down to his son Louis and later to his granddaughter Françoise as part of her dowry to Nicolas de Montluel. It remained in the family until December 5, 1562. Champdor was then sold to Hugues de Michaud for the price of 5000 ecus. The 17th century During the 17th century, Champdor belonged to Charles followed by Catherine de Michaud who was then married to Emmanuel de Montillet. Champdor's inhabitants sued Prosper de Michaud and Battandier (Catherine de Michaud's second husband) for exploitation of the land and forests. The 18th century The Montillet family possessed Champdor from 1668 until the French revolution in 1789. One of the descendants, Guy, married Hippolite de Revol, cousin of the Royal Families of France and Spain, and of the House of Savoy (Medicis). The Montillets now had access to «fortune and honor». This new rise in status begged a befitting accommodation: this was to be a 14-room and 4-tower castle. However, neither of the two lived to see its completion. The castle was completed in 1743 by Thomas de Montillet, son from a second marriage of Guy with Gasparde de Varax. Jean-François de Montillet, the famous archbishop of Auch, was born in this castle. During the French Revolution, Champdor won its independence and became a Commune. The 19th and 20th centuries For years the Montillet Family remained in Champdor and in 1848, one of the descendants even became mayor of the village. The castle was part of the Montillet family assets until 1911, when it was auctioned. Subsequently, the castle passed through many hands. It was for instance the property of the city of Marseille, which used it as a center for relaxation, before selling it to a private owner. Finally, the municipality of Champdor bought it in 1995.