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At the centre of the courtyard stands the Pomegranate Fountain, built in the 16th century, perhaps as a wedding gift from Giorgio di Challant to mark the marriage of his cousin Filiberto to Louise d’Aarberg.
An octagonal stone basin held the water that flowed from a wrought-iron tree, which was most likely originally painted in naturalistic colours to heighten the sense of wonder inspired by this technical feat, a unique example of the art of metalworking from that period. The fountain, a feature regularly found in Renaissance gardens, embodies numerous symbolic elements, and its presence contributes to the enchantment of the Italian-style garden commissioned by Giorgio di Challant.
A faithful replica of the fountain, created for the 1911 General Exhibition, is now located in Turin’s Medieval Village. The restoration carried out between 2025 and 2026 on this masterpiece of art – which has become a symbol of Issogne Castle – addressed active corrosion of the metal, structural cracks caused by the expansion of oxidised iron, and the deterioration of the basin’s stucco work. For conservation reasons, it has not yet been possible to restore the fountain to working order.
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