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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Château de Réghaud, also known as the Château de Rigaud, is a medieval building located in the commune of Senezergues, in the Cantal department. Built probably in the 13th century, it was a strategic fief near the village, set on the hillside. This rectangular castle, initially flanked by four towers with mâchicoulis and niches, was ravaged by the English a few decades after its construction. A major reconstruction took place around 1440, led by Archambaud de la Roque, who gave him his present silhouette, close to his original state despite later alterations.

The monument bears the stigmas of its turbulent history: the largest tower is partially collapsed, and the ditches were filled, probably during the French Revolution. Access is via a staircase leading to a door adorned with a three-rocked shield, topped by a mutilated crown framed with palms. This emblem, set perhaps at the end of the seventeenth century, symbolizes the heritage of noble families linked to the site. Inside, the spherical semi-calot vaults of the towers and the wooden cross-sections of the ground floor testify to medieval architectural techniques.

The first certified owner was Reghaud, the founding knight of the lineage of the Reghaud (or Regaux), a Catholic family loyal to the League during the Wars of Religion. Their grave, located near the church of Senezergues, was excavated in the 19th century, revealing a medal with the effigy of Henry III and a uniform gall of leaguer. The castle then passed into the hands of the family of Senezergues, probably an illegitimate branch of the lords of La Roque. Today, the site houses a farm and is not open to visit.

Ranked a Historic Monument since 7 October 1931, the Château de Réghaud illustrates the evolution of rural fortifications in Auvergne, between seigneurial defense and post-medieval adaptations. Its rectangular plan and crenellated towers make it a remarkable example of castral architecture from the 13th to the 15th century, despite the transformations undergone over the centuries.

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