Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Château de Beauvoir found its origins in the 12th century as a strong house, located on a hill overlooking the Val de Besbre. In the 14th century, during the Hundred Years' War, this site served as a den for British troops to ransom the region. In 1369, after an eleven-day siege led by Louis II of Bourbon, the square was taken over and its garrison executed. The castle, then in ruins, was rebuilt in Renaissance style at the end of the 15th century by the family of La Fin, whose coat of arms remained in the southeast tower.

In the 18th century, the estate was sold for debt to financial Sébastien Zamet, then passed into several hands before being acquired by the Gaulmyns, who left the county in 1762. In 1890, industrialist Émile Puzenat became its owner; His descendants are still the owners. The castle, once surrounded by moat today dried up, retains defensive elements such as a square watch tower and circular towers. The French-style gardens, designed in 1928 by landscape architect Joseph Treyve, complete this set classified as a Historic Monument in 2005.

The site also served as the setting for the filming of the show Les Traîtres (M6) in 2022. 19th-century excavations revealed Gallo-Roman statuettes on the site, now preserved at the Diocesan depot in Allier. The castle thus combines traces of ancient occupation, medieval remains and modern amenities, reflecting its evolution throughout the centuries.

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