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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Château de Puy-Guillon, located in Vernusse in the department of Allier (region Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes), is an imposing building built on a large terrace. It preserves medieval remains, like a dungeon and towers, while being transformed over the centuries into a residence of pleasure. Its architecture reflects these developments, with defensive elements of the 15th century and subsequent adjustments for comfort.

The seigneury of Puy-Guillon belonged to the Bourbonnais family of Beaucaire. In the 16th century, Jean de Beaucaire, Grand Sénéchal du Poitou, was the lord. His daughter, Charlotte de Beaucaire, married Gaspard I of Alègre de Viverols, thus transmitting the castle to this lineage. By covenant, he then passed to the Rollat, then to the Blanzat, the current owner family. The castle was listed as historical monuments in 2010.

In the 17th century, a new building was built in front of ordered gardens, providing a more pleasant living environment. The commons, added in the 17th and 18th centuries, completed the whole. Around 1870, additional buildings were erected to connect the various houses, harmonizing architecture. The medieval dungeon, towers and defensive elements still recall its fortified origin.

The castle has been fully protected since 2010, including interior decorations, terraces, gardens, and outbuildings. His history is marked by local noble families, such as the Beaucaire, the d'Alègre, and the Rollat, including Michel Gilbert de Rollat, an emigrant officer murdered in 1831 in the castle.

Architecturally, the castle combines medieval references (ringed bays, crenellated towers) and classical additions. The terrace overlooks the Puy-Guillon Creek valley, offering a panorama of the south-facing gardens. The commons, organized around the courtyard, form a coherent whole with the main houses.

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