Construction of the castle 1881-1891 (≈ 1886)
Period of construction by Bélisaire and Moreau.
21 mars 2005
Registration for Historic Monuments
Registration for Historic Monuments 21 mars 2005 (≈ 2005)
Protection of the castle and its park.
27 mars 2006
Partial classification
Partial classification 27 mars 2006 (≈ 2006)
Classification of interiors and built elements.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
The entire castle, including interior decorations and furnishings (kitchen, fruit, boiler room, elevator, hall, stairs, gallery, office, dining room, living room, library, rooms with woodwork, fireplaces, tapestries, painted canvases); the park with its hydraulic system and its factories (glacière), the chapel, the old castle called "Old Contresol" and the communes (cad. A 312 to 336, 782, 783; B 39 to 41, 44 to 63): entry by order of 21 March 2005 - The castle in its entirety, excluding the park with its hydraulic system and its factories (glacière), the chapel, the old castle known as "Old Contresol" and the remaining communes (see A 328): classification by decree of 27 March 2006
Key figures
Jean Bélisaire - Architect
Co-conceptor of the neogothic castle.
René Moreau - Architect
Co-author of the plans with Bélisaire.
Joseph Génermont - Sculptor
Author of exterior carved decorations.
Origin and history
The Château de Contresol is a neo-Gothic building built between 1881 and 1891, located in the commune of Donjon, in the department of Allier (region Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes). It is inspired mainly by the Louis XII wing of Blois Castle, with an L-shaped plan including a porch tower and a circular dungeon. The facades, decorated with polychrome trimmings and flamboyant decorations, are the work of architects Jean Bélisaire and René Moreau, while the sculptures are signed by Joseph Génermont.
Inside, the castle preserves woodwork on the ground floor and marbled canvas on the floor. The park houses an inverted vault cooler, a vestige of the historic hydraulic system. The monument was listed in 2005 and partially classified in 2006, protecting its interior decorations (woodworks, fireplaces, tapestries) and its park, including the chapel and the "Vieux Contresol", an earlier building.
The castle illustrates the 19th century's passion for the Gothic Revival style, mixing medieval reinterpretation and technical innovations (mountains, boiler room). Its architecture also reflects the influence of the large Loire castles, adapted to a more modest scale. The protected elements include functional spaces (kitchen, fruit tree) and reception rooms (dining room, living rooms, library), testifying to the aristocratic life of the time.
