Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Baume Castle, located in the former Barony of Peyre (Gevaudan), was built in the seventeenth century after the destruction of the feudal castle of Peyre during the wars of Religion. Transformed into an aristocratic residence by the Grolée family, it became a symbol of local power, combining external austerity and sumptuous interior decorations, inspired by Versailles. His enfilade of pieces, including the Galerie des Glaces miniature, earned him the nickname of Petit Versailles du Gévaudan.

Originally, the site may have been home to a strong medieval house. At the beginning of the 18th century, under Caesar de Grolée (the Great Caesar), the castle took on its present appearance: symmetrical south facade, corner towers, and interiors adorned with woodwork, painted panels and carved fireplaces. The decorations combine styles Louis XIII, Regency and 19th century additions, such as the dining room with mythological canvases or the work cabinet with celestial coats of arms.

The family of Las Cases, owner since the 19th century (via the legacy of Senator Casimir Mayran), welcomed personalities such as Valéry Giscard d'Estaing, whose wife was linked to the owners. Ranked a Historic Monument in 1963, the castle also served as a decor for the film Mont-Dragon (1970) with Jacques Brel. Today open to visitors, it houses guest rooms and a classified park.

The castle embodies the tormented history of the Gevaudan: from the Protestant massacres of Matthieu Merle (1570s) to the reconstruction by the Grolée, passing through its role as seigneurial residence after the fall of the rock of Peyre. Its altitude of 1,200 meters makes it the highest castle in France, dominating the plateaus of the Aubrac.

The interiors preserve rare testimonies of provincial decorative art from the 17th and 18th centuries, such as the King's bedroom (architect of 1702) or the large living room with Regency woodwork. The gardens, classified in 1995, complement this architectural ensemble, reflecting the ambition of the Barons of Peyre and the Las Cases.

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