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Origin and history

The Naucase Castle, located in Saint-Julien-de-Toursac in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, is a fortress whose origins date back to a 12th century tower, enlarged in the 13th, 15th and 17th centuries. It was the residence of the family of Naucaze, influential lords of the Cantalian Châtaigneraie, involved in major events such as the Crusades, the ransom of Saint Louis, the Wars of Religion and the French Revolution. The castle, looted and burned in 1792, suffered several damage over the centuries, before its seigneurial line was extinguished in the early twentieth century.

The castle, inscribed in historical monuments in 2003, combines medieval defensive elements (donjon, towers, missing ramparts) and subsequent developments, such as a monumental chimney and sculptures. Its 17th century stables, remarkable for their unique vaults (continuous crow, inclined glasses), illustrate the architectural evolution of the estate. The family coat of arms, adorning the entrance, symbolizes the heritage of the lords of Naucaze, while the buried remains and outbuildings testify to its past importance.

The construction took place in several countrysides: a primitive dungeon (XIIth or 13th century), a logis with round towers added in the 15th century, and then a building body in 1637 to connect the upper courtyard to the lower courtyard. The barn stable of 1663, with its innovative vaults and vertical shades, reflects the technical ingenuity of the time. Today, as a communal property, the castle retains traces of its central role in local history, despite the revolutionary destructions.

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