Castle of Vesime

The village of Vesime is mentioned for the first time in 991 when it was ceded to the bishops of Acqui; later in 1184 it was owned by the family of Carretto who submissed the commune of Asti receiving in return the investment as feudal lords of the country^[1] while the first documentary evidence of a castle is documented in 1209.^[2]

During the 14th century Count Amedeo of Savoy as an imperial vicar in Italy on behalf of Henry VII of Luxembourg defended Vesime the family of the then lords of Monastero Bormida, the Asinari^[1] At least in 1423, however, it was proven that a part of the village which included the castle had also become a fief to the Scarampi family.^[3]

The situation created various conflicts between Scarampi and Asinari of which the castle was also spent, severely damaged in 1431.^[3] With the extinction of the Scaramps, the fief was assigned by the Duke of Mantua Charles II to the Biandrate family.^[3]

In 1613, during the succession war of Monferrato, the castle was occupied by Piedmontese troops who damaged it and began dismantling it.^[3] which ended in 1644 when the building was destroyed by the Spanish.^[4][2]

The remains of the castle today rise on the hill overlooking the village of Vesime,^[3] of the ancient structure survived the imposing ruins and a tower, later restored, which was part of the external defensive system connected to the village.^[4][2] The ruins of the castle are depicted in the maps of the Vatican Museums.^[3]

• Rosella Seren Rosso, The castles of Piemonte. The provinces of Asti and Alessandria, Cavallermaggiore, Gribaudo, 2000, ISBN 9788880581628.

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