Construction or overhaul 1er quart XVIIe siècle (≈ 1725)
Current building built or redesigned.
1730
Sale to Guillaume-Antoine de Bouillé
Sale to Guillaume-Antoine de Bouillé 1730 (≈ 1730)
Transfer to the hands of the Bouillé.
1739
Birth of General de Bouillé
Birth of General de Bouillé 1739 (≈ 1739)
Birth in the castle.
1942-1958
Transformation into a holiday colony
Transformation into a holiday colony 1942-1958 (≈ 1950)
Use as a home for children.
28 décembre 1964
Registration for historical monuments
Registration for historical monuments 28 décembre 1964 (≈ 1964)
Protection of living rooms and decors.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
Castle, including sculpted woodwork lounge and woodwork lounge decorated with paints and painted ceiling (Box C 92): inscription by order of 28 December 1964
Key figures
Guilhem de Cluzel - Initial constructor
Founder of the castle in the seventeenth.
Guillaume-Antoine de Bouillé - Acquirer in 1730
Marquis and father of the general.
François Claude de Bouillé - Royalist General
Born in the castle in 1739.
Origin and history
The castle of Cluzel, located in Mazeyrat-d'Allier in the Haute-Loire, is a monument of the early seventeenth century, built from an older building. It presents itself as a vast quadrilateral flanked by two round towers, with a south facade composed of rectangular pavilions framed by a central pavilion overlooking the staircase. Its interior preserves two remarkable living rooms: one decorated with carved woodwork and paintings on small panels typical of the Louis XIII style, the other decorated with large panels framed with mouldings of foliage and fruit, evoking the Burgundy decoration of the sixteenth century.
Built by Guilhem de Cluzel, the castle remained in his family for more than 400 years, before passing through marriage to the La Rochefoucauld in the 17th century. In 1730 he was sold to Guillaume-Antoine de Bouillé, Marquis and father of General François Claude de Bouillé, born in this castle in 1739. The latter was known for his attempts to save Louis XVI during the Revolution. The castle, transformed into a holiday colony from 1942 to 1958, has been listed as a historical monument since 1964 for its salons and exceptional decor.
The castle illustrates the architectural and social evolution of a noble home, passing from the hands of a local family to influential aristocrats such as the Rochefoucauld and the Bouillé. Its history also reflects functional adaptations over the centuries, ranging from seigneurial residence to children's reception. The interior woodwork and paintings, protected since 1964, bear witness to the artistic refinement of the Louis XIII period and the Burgundian decorative heritage.
Located 3 km from Saint-Eble and 2 km from Rougeac, the château de Cluzel is a representative example of the castral heritage of the Haute-Loire. Its inscription in historical monuments highlights the value of its interior decorations, unique in the region, and its role in local history, notably through the figure of General de Bouillé. Today, there remains a major architectural and historical testimony of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes.
