Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The castle of Aurouze, located in the Cantal in Molompize, was built from 1309 by Bertrand de Rochefort d'Aurouze, with the permission of Philippe le Bel. This castle, now in ruins, overlooks the village and preserves traces of its medieval architecture: slender facade, sill windows, dungeon and turret. It was the centre of a seigneurial estate linked to the Rochefort, Courcelles and Bouillé families, with coats of arms still visible fifty years ago.

In the 14th century, the castle was the prey of Aymerigot Marchès, a band chief in the service of the English, who made his den in 1383 before selling it to John III of Armagnac. John de Courcelles, whose descendants, such as Louis II (bassed by the Montagnes d'Auvergne under Charles VII), marked his history. The castle changed hands several times, notably through marriages or royal confiscations, such as that of Louis XI in 1476 for the benefit of Jean d'Urfé.

The Bouillé, the noble family of Auvergne, became its owners in the 15th century by the marriage of Anne of Urfé with Gaspard of Bouillé. The castle, looted during the Revolution, was finally listed as historical monuments in 1972 and its site classified in 1968. His remains, including a vaulted hexagonal hall and heraldic friezes, bear witness to his seigneurial past and to the conflicts that have crossed him.

Architecturally, the castle had a rectangular plan flanked by four towers, one of which was used as a dungeon and another with a spiral staircase. The south facade, partially preserved, shows crib windows and a terrace in spur. The dungeon room, covered with ogival vaults, had coats of arms from the Rochefort, Courcelles and Orlhac families, symbols of alliances and local authorities.

Its history reflects the feudal struggles and marital strategies of the Auvergne nobility. Passed into the hands of Lastic, Armagnac, Courcelles and Bouillé, it also illustrates the ravages of wars (the Hundred Years War, Revolution) and successive reconstructions. Its late classification in the twentieth century underscores its heritage importance, despite its state of ruin.

External links