Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Château de Contenson, located in Saint-Just-en-Chevalet in the Loire, finds its origins in the sixteenth century, when Jean de Foudras (1500-1582) erected a first construction on an old barn. The estate then passed into several hands, including those of Jacques du Bessey, king's adviser, who acquired it in 1671. The Bessey family kept the castle until 1863, when it was bought by Baron Camille Bernou de Rochetaille.

In 1885 Camille de Rochetaille almost completely razed the medieval building to replace it with the present castle, completed in 1889. Only the foundations of the 16th century dungeon, the Louis XV salons and the cellars are preserved. The architectural style combines Renaissance and Gothic, with rosé granite and grey lava stones, as well as a slate roofing in Angers. The baron, also at the origin of the church and the local school, is a lasting sign of the village.

During the First World War, the castle served as a makeshift hospital, welcoming many wounded. During World War II, it was home to resistance fighters. The descendants of Camille de Rochetaillé, Henri (1883-1973) and Jean (1913-2009), illustrate in these conflicts. The facades and roofs were classified as historical monuments in 1975. Private property, the castle is not visited.

The history of the castle is also linked to local noble families, such as the d-Augerolles, mentioned in 1316, or the Charpin de Genetines, owners in the 17th century. The building thus embodies centuries of history, between medieval heritage, modern transformations and commitments during wars.

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