Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

Château Saint-Étienne, located in Aurillac in the Cantal, is a medieval monument dating back to the ninth century. Built on a hill at an altitude of 685 meters, it dominates the city and was initially the castrum of the father of Saint Géraud, founder of the abbey of Aurillac. The square tower, vestige of the first castle, presents three phases of construction: the ninth century at its base, the twelfth century, and the fourteenth century. Its upper arase dates from the 19th century, after it was reduced in 1747.

The castle was the residence of the abbots of Aurillac until the French Revolution, when it was sold as a national good. In 1845 he was bequeathed to the diocese of Saint-Flour before being bought by the commune in 1847 under the impulse of Mayor Louis-Furcy Grognier. The latter established a normal school of teachers, entrusted to the Brothers of the Christian Schools, which remained there until 1940. A fire in 1868 destroyed part of the buildings, leading to a reconstruction inspired by the Papal Palace of Avignon, in tribute to Gerbert d'Aurillac (Pape Sylvestre II).

The castle was also the scene of historical conflicts, especially during the revolts of the inhabitants of Aurillac against the abbey in the 13th and 15th centuries. In 1569, it was destroyed by the Huguenots and restored by Abbé Charles de Noailles. After the Revolution, he served briefly as a prefectural residence before becoming an educational centre. In 1972, under the leadership of Mayor Mézard, he hosted the Volcano House, a museum dedicated to volcanoism and the environment, as well as a Permanent Centre for Environmental Initiatives (CPIE).

Today, the castle houses the museum of Volcanoes, which offers interactive exhibitions on the geology, fauna and flora of Cantal. The site, labeled CPIE, is also a place for university research and ecological awareness. Since 2023, the museum has been temporarily closed for a project to regroup with the Art and Archaeology Museum of Aurillac.

Architecturally, the castle consists of a medieval square tower, partly aladen, and buildings rebuilt in the 19th century by the architect Just Lisch. The main facade, inspired by the Popes' Palace, dominates the city, while the rear wing, in the form of barracks, houses the scientific collections. The Gallo-Roman remains mentioned (like a dolmen) remain unconfirmed.

The castle has been listed as a Historic Monument since 2010 for its medieval dungeon. Owned by the commune, it symbolizes both the religious history of Aurillac (linked to Saint Géraud and the Abbey), its educational past (normal school) and its current commitment to the dissemination of science and the protection of the environment.

External links