Initial construction Moyen Âge (≈ 1125)
Period of construction of the medieval belfry.
1633
Partial destruction
Partial destruction 1633 (≈ 1633)
Shaved by order of Richelieu.
2010
Historical Monument
Historical Monument 2010 (≈ 2010)
Registration by order of 2 July.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
The entire belfry (Box OA 907): registration by order of 2 July 2010
Key figures
Cardinal de Richelieu - Stateman
Ordained its destruction in 1633.
Origin and history
The belfry of Montaigut-en-Combraille is the last vestige of a medieval construction destroyed in 1633 by order of Richelieu. This square tower, later restored, is distinguished by its original four-sided bulb-shaped roof, an architectural rarity for the period. It is styled with a iron lantern and a girouette, surrounded by a small square balcony, which makes it an emblematic monument of the region.
Ranked a Historic Monument, the belfry was registered in full by order of 2 July 2010. Its location, at 18 Rue du Palais in Montaigut (Puy-de-Dôme), makes it a point of heritage interest in the urban landscape. Although its geographical accuracy is considered satisfactory a priori (note 6/10), it remains a symbol of local medieval history, marked by conflicts and successive reconstructions.
The monument, owned by the municipality, bears witness to the architectural techniques of the Middle Ages, notably its defensive structure and its characteristic roof. Its history also reflects the political upheavals of the era, such as the destruction ordered by Richelieu, a major figure of the seventeenth century. Today, it embodies both a medieval heritage and a heritage resilience, preserved for future generations.
