Castles

 

 

BELLENAVES

Château de Bellenaves XVth and XVIIth century

Carved volvic stones. Porch Louis XVI style.

Outside visit on request

Contact : 04 70 58 39 75

 

 

CHAREIL CINTRATChareil chintrat

Château de Chareil XVIth century

This Bourbon castle, real jewel of the French Renaissance offers an outstanding carved decoration. Every rooms are adorned with wall-paintings dated 1560-1570 inspired by antiquity representing astrological and mythological subjects.

Visit. Info. 04.70.56.94.28.

 

 CHOUVIGNY

Château de Chouvigny XIIIth century

Built in 1250 by Guillaume the First of Chauvigny on a rocky spur overhanging the Valley of the Sioule (80m). This castle governs the traffic into the well-known gorges. Restored, we can see : oratory arms room with groined vault, room of honours and many towers, of which the tower of the Trésor.

Open in May, June and September : Sunday and public holidays from 2.30pm till 5.30pm. In July and August : every day from 10am to noon and 2.30pm till 6.30pm.

Group on booking the year round

Contact : 04 70 90 44 95.

 

ESCUROLLES

Château des Granges XVth century

Only two main buildings of the castle, the shooting room which protects the entry and the moats remain. Inside two chimneys (end of XVth century) and traces of wall paintings. Permanent exhibition of crafts furniture copies of ancient wooden floors.

Open from Monday till Saturday from 3pm till 6pm.

Tél. : 04.70.90.50.11

 

ÉTROUSSAT

Château de Douzon XVIIIth century

Outside visit from 1st of July till 1st of October

Tel. : 04 70 56 72 67

 

GANNAT

Château des Sires de Bourbon XIIth – XIVth centuries, listed

Only remains a quadrangular enclosure with four  round towers. Linked to the Royal Crown in the XVIth century, as the rest of the dukedom, the castle, century after century, became jail, factory, refuge and jail again. The municipality bought it and in 1971 became Museum.

Tél. 04.70.90.23.78

 

JENZAT

XVth and XVIIIth centuries, listed Historic Building

The castle built in the XVth century shows a square tower inserted in the façade and also a round corner tower. Perpendicularly, the rectangular central building of the castle of the XVIIIth century, covered with a roof built in  “Mansart” style is flanked by two wings. Porch dated 1760.

Outside visit (week-end) (landscape gardens) from 01.04 till 30.09 from 10am to noon and from 2pm till 6pm.

  

LAFELINE

Château du Bouchat XVIth century

The castle owns four  heavy corner towers from the period of the family Condemine. Fenced with dried moats, it has in its front façade two heavy towers, peper-box crowned, with holes for guns, surrounding a fortified door which was accessible by the way of a drawbridge and defended by a port-cullis.

Outside visit only.

 

LA FERTÉ-HAUTERIVE

Château des Echerolles, XVIth, XVIIIth and XIXth centuries (listed)

Free visit - Inside on request

Tel. : 04 70 43 06 20 or 06 71 42 48 14

 

 

 

MAZERIER

Château de l'Anglard XIVth- XVIth centuries

Main buildings with right angles flanked by three round towers and one polygonal turret in façade. The last round tower is integrated into the second main building, where the chapel is. To see : the frescos of the Last Judgement, wall paintings XVth century of the chapel, listed Historic Building.

Visit on booking : Madame Pouzadoux : 04 70 90 51 58

 

 

 

MONTEIGNET SUR ANDELOT

Manor de Fontorte XVIIth century, listed.

Huge dwelling of which classical and tidy style is not well-known in Bourbon area. Built by the Marquis of Effiat in view to have a hunting lodge.

Outside visit in July, August, September from 9am to 6pm on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday.

Tél. : 04.70.90.50.51

  

Montaigu Le Blin

Château Medieval : XIIth and XVIIth centuries.

Listed Historic Building

Built on Philippe August's request, splendid example of the Medieval military architecture.

Outside visit only, Contact : Association Etudes et Chantiers d’Auvergne – 04 73 31 98 00.

 Montoldre

Château de Gayette : XVIIIth century.

Listed Historic Building

From the feudal castle only remains the quadrangular donjon, listed  Historic building, sheltering a huge farm which timber-framed is in shape of a upside down boat. Given to the religious of la Charité and transformed in an hospital in XVIIIth century, nowadays this is a senior’s home. Listed.

Outside visit.

 

 

 

SAINT BONNET DE ROCHEFORT

Château de Rochefort  XIIth – XVIIth centuries, listed

Erected by the lord of Bourbon to control the traffic on the Sioule. Fortress composed with a polygonal main building with a round donjon overhung by a little crenelated watch-tower. The entire building is protected by an enclosure flanked by round towers.

Groups on booking – From 1st of April till 1st of November-

Tel.: 04.70.58.50.02

 

 

SAINT PONT

XVIIth-XVIIIth centuries, listed

Roof « à l’impériale » and façade in red bricks. Courtyard limited by two pigeon houses. Important outbuildings.

Outside visit in July and August from 10am to noon and 3pm to 6pm. Tél. 04.70 90.52.62

RongÈres

Le Méage: XVth and XVIIIth centuries.

Typical of the Bourbon architecture with its main building and towers in façade. Modified in XVIIIth century adjoined outbuildings and retaining walls of the moats. Pigeon house

Outside visit (free) from 10am till 7pm

Tel. :   04 70 45 23 12.

 

 

 

St. Gérand de Vaux

Château de St. Géran : XVIth and XVIIIth centuries. Listed Historic Building.

Three main buildings in U : right Renaissance aisle with a corner turret with corbelled construction and a very nice Renaissance inner stair. A park (4ha).

Free outside visit and guided inner visit. 04 70 45 11 42 or 06 81 56 30 88

 

 LE THEIL

Fontariol XVth century, listed.

Fontariol middle-class house quoted in the Bourbon inventory in 1503. This is a classic example of our little castles which lined our countries with its strong main buildings, towers and courtyard surrounded with outbuildings.

Open afternoon (July and August).On booking from the Ascension till end of September - Contact: Jacques Pince 04.70.42.33.72

 

Trezelles

Château des Quillets : XVIIth century.

Louis XIIIth house in polychromatic bricks, with one tower and a dovecote.

Outside visit. Tél. 04.70.99.07.17

VARENNES SUR ALLIER 

Château de Chazeuil XVIIth and XIXh centuries

Exceptionnal opening during cultural meetings. Tel. : 04 70 45 00 10

VEAUCE

Château de Veauce

Private property listed Historic Building. This strategic position let supposed a very old fortified building. Built on a rocky peak. The feudal part still keeps three crenelated towers and a square tower. Main restoration works were done in the middle of the XIXth century, giving it the present shape.

Possibility to have diner inside of the castle.

Open the year round except on tuesday from 10am till noon and 2.30pm till 6.30pm- Tél. 04.70.58.53.27