Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Castle of Pesteils, located in Polminhac in the Cantal, is an ancient medieval fortress built in the late Middle Ages, between the 14th and 15th centuries. Its 40-metre dungeon, built during the Hundred Years War, overlooks the valley of the Cère. The site was initially a stronghold controlled by local noble families such as the Foulholes and the Montamat, before being enlarged in the 17th century by the Pesteils and Cassagnes of Beaufort de Miramon.

In the 17th century, the house body and a house house were added, giving the castle a residential dimension. The interior decorations, redesigned in the 19th century in a neo-Gothic style by the Miramon family and architect Émile Lemaigre, include a double-revolution staircase and 15th-century frescoes restored in 2008. The park, redesigned at the beginning of the 20th century, completes this collection classified Historic Monument in 1994.

The castle retains a variety of architectural elements: 17th century painted ceilings depicting mythological scenes, award-winning ancient cuisine, and 20th century murals classified since 1980. It is also home to historical saynetes with wax characters since its opening to the public in 1956. The site was used as a setting for films, such as The Eternal Return (1942) with Jean Marais.

The history of the castle is marked by medieval conflicts, such as the struggles between Renaud de Murat and Bernard VII of Armagnac in the early 15th century. Transmitted by marriage alliances (Foulholes, Montamat, Pesteils, Miramon), it illustrates the evolution of fortresses in aristocratic residences. The works of the 19th and 20th centuries, including those of Anatole and Gabriel de Miramon, preserved its heritage while adapting to the tastes of each era.

Today, the Castle of Pesteils combines medieval heritage and modern amenities, with a park listed in the pre-inventory of remarkable gardens. Its collections (further furniture, tapestries, paintings) and its hybrid architecture make it a unique testimony of the Auvergne history, open to the visit and committed to the valorization of its cultural heritage.

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