The castle was probably built in the 9th–10th centuries. Its existence is mentioned for the first time in 1159, in a diploma by Emperor
Frederick Barbarossa that ceded the Rivolese territories to the
bishops of Turin. The
House of Savoy acquired Rivoli in the 11th century. Soon afterwards, a feud began with the bishops, which in 1184 resulted in damage to the castle. In 1273 King
Edward I of England visited, returning from
crusade to England, he was met by the Count of Savoy's messengers before travelling on to
Susa and the
Mont Cenis on the way to visit Count
Philip I at
Saint-Georges-d'Espéranche. In 1330
Amadeus VI of Savoy allowed the Consiglio dei Principi, which is the senior administrative council of the countryside, to occupy it. The castle was the first place of public veneration of the
Shroud of Turin. The castle then experienced a period of decline. In 1559, the
Treaty of Cateau-Cambrésis forbade
Emmanuel Philibert, Duke of Savoy from residing in Turin until he had a male child. He therefore resided in the Castle of Rivoli, having it restored by architect
Ascanio Vitozzi. In 1562 his heir
Charles Emmanuel I was born, and he returned to Turin. Works on Vitozzi's designs were brought on until 1644 under
Carlo and
Amedeo di Castellamonte, with the construction of the so-called
Manica Lunga, intended to house the Savoy Gallery, the sole 17th-century part of the edifice still visible today. Numerous works of art were stolen by French troops in the following years. At the beginning of the 18th century, the castle and the Manica Lunga were set on fire and sacked by the French, due to the
War of the Spanish Succession. After the siege of 1706,
Victor Amadeus II regained possession of the territories and ordered the restructuring of the damage suffered, first entrusting the work to Michelangelo Garove, who enlarged the "Manica Lunga", then, after his death, to Antonio Bertola. The latter followed the construction sites for another three years, until
Filippo Juvarra intervened in 1716; the famous architect in fact had a grandiose project in mind, but the works were not completed. Only the extensions of the two eastern symmetrical wings were finished, but an unfinished façade was left. In 1730, Victor Amadeus II lived his madness here: despite having abdicated in favor of his son, he refused to let go of business and tried to oust
Charles Emmanuel III of Sardinia, who, in concert with his minister,
Carlo Vincenzo Ferrero d'Ormea, decided to lock up his father in the residence in Rivoli. For that occasion, the building was modified again: gratings were added to the windows and the access to the Manica Lunga was closed. Then in 1794, some alterations were carried out by Carlo Randoni, for at least partial use of the residence.
19th century and onward Victor Amadeus II commissioned a new façade from
Filippo Juvarra, which also went unfinished. After his abdication and failed attempt to regain power from his son
Charles Emmanuel III, Victor Amadeus lived here as a prisoner with his
morganatic spouse the
Marchesa di Spigno. After his death, the castle remained mostly abandoned, until in 1863, when the
comune of Rivoli turned it into barracks. Twenty years later a section was used as library. The edifice was heavily damaged during
World War II, and remained in a substantial state of abandon until 1979, when new works of restoration were begun. In 1984 the castle was reopened as the home of the , the first contemporary art museum in Italy. In 2000, the castle also became home to a Michelin-starred restaurant when chef Davide Scabin moved his restaurant Combal there, renaming it
Combal.Zero. ==Renovation projects==