The most beautiful castles and forts to discover in the Pays d’Issoire

Nicknamed by Henri Pourrat, a famous writer from Ambert, the Château de Parentignat has nothing to envy to its Parisian counterpart. Richly furnished by its owner at the time, François II, the castle and its French-style garden make this place one of the most sumptuous in the region at the beginning of the 18th century. The building was spared during the Revolution and in the early 19th century, the garden was transformed into an English-style garden.

In 1822, a fire ravaged an entire mansard floor and part of the original furniture. A new summary restoration was undertaken before falling into a period of neglect until 1870. It was not until this period that the castle was completely restored by Jean De Lastic, including the roofs, reconstructions to the original design, the park, the creation of lounges, the library, and the grand bedrooms. The last restoration dates from the 1970s and 1980s.

Today it houses one of the most important private collections of French masterpieces from the 17th and 18th centuries. In addition to its artistic masterpieces, the castle is also renowned for its “English-style” park, combining flower beds, lawns, and a central pond.

Numerous events and exhibitions are organized throughout the year. Definitely add it to your list of visits!

Let’s change the scenery with a visit to the Hôtel d’Aureilhe, also known as the Old Château de Villeneuve. Listed in the supplementary inventory of historical monuments since 1991, this place is a medieval fortified building. Composed of four distinct parts, it is a witness to the rise of the nobility in feudal Lembron.

Villeneuve appears in writings in the 11th century, as a result of the division of the territory of Mareugheol to counter the influence of the Issoire Abbey. Managed by knights loyal to their lord, there are only a few traces of this period.

The d’Aureilhe family appeared at the beginning of the 15th century in Villeneuve. It was Rigaud, baron in 1501, who contributed to its evolution by building the transition style castle at the end of the 15th century. In the 19th century, the village experienced intense wine activity which ended in 1890 with the phylloxera.

The particularity of this place lies in the different constituent elements that reveal different eras. Firstly, there is the keep from the beginning of the 11th century, forming a square tower surrounded by a rampart. Then comes the hotel itself, dating from the 15th century, the second enclosure and buildings from the 16th century. Finally, there are newer wine buildings dating from the 19th century.

Since the late 1970s, the building has been the subject of successive renovations that make it a rich and lively place in our local cultural and architectural heritage. Another visit to add to your list, just a stone’s throw from our bed and breakfast!

Let’s head to Champeix to discover the Château du Marchidial, related to a famous branch of the Auvergne counts, the Dauphins. The base of the circular Roman keep and the former castral church, as well as a modified porch, still remain on the site. To the south of the building, you can see part of the ramparts converted into a retaining wall. To the west, a defensive moat is still visible.

Thanks to the Armorial de Revel, we have a representation of the castle from the 15th century. It was then abandoned by the Dauphins and their successors, dismantled in the 17th century and finally left to ruin.

The Saint-Jean church is still visible and offers architecture enthusiasts a small sanctuary with a single nave and a flat apse dating back to the 12th century. Inside, fragments of frescoes depict biblical episodes such as the dance of Salome and the banquet of Herod.

It is the municipality of Champeix that maintains and restores the castle and its gardens. The interior of the church is accessible in July and August as part of the organized exhibitions.

This beautiful walk will offer you magnificent panoramic views of the village.

Let’s return to Lembron to discover a completely different setting. The Château de Villeneuve-Lembron is a manor house built at the turn of the 15th and 16th centuries. It is a reflection of this period of transition between the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. Its construction shows the importance and wealth that the lord of Villeneuve derives from royal favor.

Rigaud d’Aureille (c. 1450-1517), Baron of Villeneuve, is an important figure who enjoys many privileges. Over time, he gained the trust of the sovereigns and diplomatic missions were entrusted to him. The residence he had erected away from the old family hotel where he was born is a vast quadrilateral flanked by massive towers and surrounded by deep moats.

At the beginning of the 16th century, the land of Villeneuve, raised to a barony, was returned to the Montmorin family. Gaspard de Montmorin embellished the castle with a large painted decoration, of which there are some remarkable testimonies in the ceremonial room and in the large stables.

In 1643, Villeneuve-Lembron was acquired by Isaac Dufour, treasurer of France. He then transformed the inner courtyard, created a gallery with a portico, and decorated the ceilings and fireplaces on the first floor. The castle was then sold to the Pélissier de Féligonde family, who kept it until 1919.

The castle has been classified as a Historic Monument since 1926. In 1937, the last owner donated it to the State. A vast restoration was then undertaken. It is currently managed by the Centre des Monuments Nationaux.

You have the option to visit independently or with a guide. Let’s go!

Let’s go to Saint-Floret to discover the 13th-century feudal castle. Two rooms are accessible to visitors, as well as access to the keep and tower. There is a magnificent panoramic view of the village! If you are attentive, you can see the fairy fountain placed in a cave whose water cured children of the disease of the big belly.

The keep contains a vaulted room measuring 9m on each side, lined with 19 ribs and a keystone representing a human-faced sun. A magnificent door opens into a knights’ hall. Here you can discover King Marc, Tristan de Léonois, Palamède, Hélis, the fairy Morgane, and Iseult. All these characters represent the legend of Tristan and Yseult. Around forty frescoes depicting this romance were painted in 1370, of which 13 still remain today.

Since the bombing of June 1944, part of the fortress has been destroyed and abandoned. As for the surviving structure of the fortress, it is generally occupied or used.

With the castle’s protection as a historical monument and its label as “One of the Most Beautiful Villages in France,” the commune of Saint-Floret has significant assets for the preservation and enhancement of its heritage.

Let’s go back to the surroundings of our establishment in Mareugheol. At the end of the Middle Ages, the period was unstable. Villagers transformed their villages into fortified villages. This is a phenomenon that has largely marked the Pays d’Issoire. The one in Mareugheol is one of the best-preserved.

Intended to ensure the safety of the inhabitants, this defensive system is distinct from the castle. It was mainly used during the Hundred Years’ War. The fort is rectangular in shape and is equipped with a circular tower at each corner. A walking path still exists in some places.

You can still admire several old frames and houses with deep cellars lining the narrow streets. Inside the enclosure, you will discover the Romanesque church which contains an elegant statue of the Nursing Virgin dating from the 15th century. Outside the ramparts, you will see a Stone of the Dead, formerly used for the display of the deceased.

The 13th century castle is located in the heart of the village of Saint-Gervazy. It belonged to the Saint-Gervazy family and then to the Oradour family. In 1986, after decades of successive degradation, the castle was in ruins. The Association for the Preservation of the Castle of Saint-Gervazy was created and carried out numerous renovation works. It became the property of the municipality in 2002, which continued the development and restoration of the building. Since 2011, all rooms of the castle are available for rental.

Visits are possible all year round.