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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Château de Claviières, located in Polminhac in the Cantal, is a building whose origin dates back to at least the thirteenth century, with a seigneury attested from 1230. The property passes to the Salvatge family (or Salvage de Clavières) in the sixteenth century, which preserves it until today. A first castle, probably a strong house with stair tower, was built or rebuilt in the late 15th or early 16th century. In the 17th century, the estate expanded with a north wing and a chapel, while in the 18th century, commons and a classical garden were built.

In the mid-19th century, the castle was completely transformed by Joseph de Salvage de Clavières (1830-1911), General Councillor of Cantal. In 1857, he rebuilt the main body on land acquired in 1835 by his father, François-Louis Salvages de Clavières (1802-1847), adding a central rotunda and a landscaped park. The architecture was inspired by the Aurillac prefecture, built between 1800 and 1806. The interiors are redecorated, and the commons (except the stables) are moved to the back of the castle.

The estate, including the castle, the chapel, the communes and the park with its water room, has been protected since 6 October 2021 by an additional listing of historical monuments. This site is distinguished by its regular order, its lauze roof pierced with skylights, and its history linked to the same family over centuries. It should be noted that two other castles bearing the same name exist in the Cantal (Clavières-Ayrens and Velzic), without direct connection to Polminhac.

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