Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The castle of Aurec, located in Aurec-sur-Loire in the department of Haute-Loire, finds its origins around 1100, when the Counts of Forez probably built a first castle. The present building, mainly built in the 15th and 16th centuries, stands out as one of the most imposing fortresses in the region, both in its dimensions and in its strategic role. Its later transformations in the 18th and 19th centuries enriched its interior decor, with woodwork, stucco and paintings characteristic of the 18th century.

The castle belonged to the Fustier family before being bought in 1852 by Claude Rey, who undertook restoration work to make it habitable. His last occupants were Louis Fustier and his wife Marthe Pignal, descendants of the Chazournes family, until 1991. The park of about one hectare, now open to the public, is home to centuries-old trees such as cedar and giant wellingtonias. The castle, registered as a historical monument in 1996, also served as a communal library.

Its architecture reflects an evolution marked by additions and redevelopments, including the staircase in screws and the decorations preserved in several rooms (Gothic dining room, library, salons, gallery and oratory). The communes and park, surrounded by a fence wall, are part of the elements protected by the registration order. The castle thus illustrates centuries of local history, mixing defensive, residential and cultural functions.

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