Construction of the central body 1817 (≈ 1817)
Building the neoclassical heart of the castle.
1830-1840
Adding side wings
Adding side wings 1830-1840 (≈ 1835)
Expansion of the castle and park.
1842-1844
Agricultural Institute of the Centre
Agricultural Institute of the Centre 1842-1844 (≈ 1843)
Educational function under André de Bonneval.
26 novembre 1990
Registration for Historic Monuments
Registration for Historic Monuments 26 novembre 1990 (≈ 1990)
Protection of marked facades and parquet floors.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
Facades and roofs; parquet flooring on the ground floor (Box ZX 10): inscription by order of 26 November 1990
Key figures
André de Bonneval (1798–1844) - Owner and agronomist
Pioneer of modern agricultural techniques.
Christian Chalmin - Current Owner
Publisher and custodian of heritage.
Origin and history
The Château de Lafont is a neo-classical building built in the early 19th century, to the northeast of Broût-Vernet, in the department of the Allier (Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes). It is distinguished by its central body erected in 1817, flanked by two wings added between 1830 and 1840, all integrated in an English garden. Four twin pavilions (Broût, Saint-Pont, Vichy, Saint-Didier) mark the entrances to the estate, while its façade, ordered with a central forebody surmounted by a pediment, reflects the architectural elegance of the period.
Inside, the castle houses a hall decorated with a colossal portico with canned ion columns, as well as a large living room with a marquetry parquet floor forming a central rosette. Its structure, inspired by Philibert De l'Orme's techniques, uses curved farms assembled with piled slats, a rare model in the region. The estate, conceived as a coherent set including commons and park, served briefly as the agricultural institute of the center (1842–44) under the impulse of its owner, André de Bonneval.
The Château de Lafont is inseparable from André de Bonneval (1798–44), a pioneer agronomist who experimented with modern farming techniques, especially for the development of the Landes de Gascogne. After his death, the estate passed to the Villot de Boisluisant family, then to the publisher Christian Chalmin. The castle was listed as a historical monument in 1990 for its facades, roofs and parquet floors.It illustrates both the neo-classical architectural heritage and agricultural innovation of the 19th century.
Historical sources mention an earlier castle, attested in 1569 by Nicolay, but the current building results from a complete reconstruction in the 19th century. Although some elements (blangery, lingerie, pavilions) have disappeared, the estate retains its park and its main buildings, today privately owned. Its history reflects the social and economic transformations of the region, between land aristocracy and agricultural modernization.
