Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

Bagnols Castle, built in the 13th century by Guichard d'Oingt, co-signor of Châtillon, was initially a castle fort. Between 1217 and 1221 Guichard obtained a loan of 11,000 sous-forts from the archbishop of Lyon for his construction. The castle then passed into the hands of several noble families, including the Albon, the Balsacs, and the Dugué, who gradually transformed it into a pleasure residence.

In the 15th century, Geoffroy de Balsac, lord of the castle, received King Charles VIII there in 1490 and married Claude Le Viste, daughter of the alleged sponsor of the tapestries of La Dame à la unicorne. The castle was thoroughly redesigned at that time, then embellished in the 16th century by the Camus family, which added defenses. In the 17th century, Gaspard Dugué, treasurer of France, made it a comfortable and decorated home, even welcoming Madame de Sévigné in 1673.

In the 18th century, Joseph Barthélemy Hessler, from Frankfurt, redone the roofs and decorated the guard room. The castle changed hands several times, notably with the families Chavanis and Morand de Jouffrey, before falling into decline in the 19th century. In 1987, the English philanthropist Paul Hamlyn transformed him into a luxury hotel, a status he now retains under the management of the Relais & Châteaux group, with a star restaurant and spa.

Ranked a Historic Monument, the castle combines medieval elements (doves, towers, mâchicoulis) with interior decorations from the 17th and 18th centuries, including murals and woodwork. Its park, surrounded by enclosure walls and round towers, includes a terraced garden, a 13th century cooler and an octagonal dovecote. The interior courtyard, covered with a glass ceiling since 2014, evokes the Louvre.

The arms of successive families (Albon, Balsac, Dugué, Chavanis) still adorn some rooms. The guard room preserves a shield commemorating the visit of Charles VIII, while the music salon, the chapel and other rooms bear witness to the splendor of past centuries. Today, the castle combines historical heritage and high-end hospitality, attracting visitors and customers from all over the world.

External links