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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Château de Colombier-le-Vieux, also known as the Château de Belle Combe, is a historic monument located in the department of Ardèche, in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region. Its construction began in the 13th century under the impetus of the Belle Combe, notably Alix de Belle Combe and Arthaud de Montchal, to symbolize the seigneury of Colombier-le-Vieux. This castle, typical of medieval architecture, is located in a strategic area of northern Ardèche, reflecting the stakes of local power of the time.

Over the centuries, the castle changed owners several times. As early as 1309, it belonged to Arnaud de Fay, lord of Etables, and then passed into the hands of the powerful De Joyeuse family at the end of the 14th century, by covenant. This family makes it a partial seigneury of Bozas. The monument remains in this line until the beginning of the 20th century, where it was acquired in 1910 by the Entressangle brothers of Etables, including Abbé Victor Entressangle and Paul Entressangle. Later, in 1997, the castle was sold to Régis Desbos by Madame Roche, heiress of Entressangle.

Belle Combe Castle has been listed as a historic monument since May 31, 1927, recognizing its heritage importance. Its history reflects the feudal dynamics and family alliances that marked the Ardèche and the Rhône-Alpes region in the Middle Ages and beyond. Today, there remains an architectural testimony of the social and political transformations of this part of France.

Available sources, including Wikipedia and the Merimée base, confirm its status as a protected monument and its historical role in the region. Although some periods of its history remain less documented, its inscription in 1927 and the traces of its various owners make it a key site to understand the evolution of seigneuries in Ardèche.

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