Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The castle of the Arthaudière finds its origins in the 13th century with a round tower, followed by a barlong dungeon in the 14th century, built by the Arthaud family. A strong house was attested to in 1345. At the beginning of the Renaissance, the site underwent major changes, but it was burned in 1580 by Protestants during the Wars of Religion. André II de La Porte began his restoration in 1590, adding a Renaissance gallery and a rectangular house flanked by a turret.

In the 17th century, a monumental staircase and work on the wing dates back to 1680, while in 1726 new modifications were made. The round tower was raised at the end of the 19th century by a polygonal brick volume. The east wing, destroyed by a fire around 1950, bears witness to the vicissitudes of the monument. A chapel founded at the beginning of the 16th century by André I de La Porte, mentioned in his 1517 will, houses a secure cabinet for the precious goods of the lords.

The stables, in plan "L", date from several periods, with a car shed transformed into a museum space. The gardens, inspired by Italy (late 16th–early 17th century), retain their initial structure despite subsequent improvements. The castle, its communes, the farm and the terraces have been listed as Historic Monuments since December 30, 1991, illustrating its heritage importance.

The building thus combines medieval vestiges (quadrangular enclosure, dungeon) and Renaissance or classical additions (scaling with 18th century vis, tower elevation). Materials, such as the bricks of the terrace or the white limestone of the base, reflect architectural developments. The well and the stone basin, sheltered under an imperial roof, complete this historic complex marked by the Arthaud and La Porte families.

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