Origins of the castle XIIIe siècle (≈ 1350)
First mention of medieval foundations.
XVe siècle
Main construction
Main construction XVe siècle (≈ 1550)
Edification of the present gentilhommière.
1793
Sale as a national good
Sale as a national good 1793 (≈ 1793)
Castle confiscated during the Revolution.
6 mars 1947
Partial registration
Partial registration 6 mars 1947 (≈ 1947)
Protection of buildings and outbuildings.
1er juillet 1959
Complete classification
Complete classification 1er juillet 1959 (≈ 1959)
Fronts, roofs, moats and enclosures protected.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
Castle (except classified parts) , farm yard, vegetable garden : inscription by order of 6 March 1947 ; The facades and roofs of the castle itself, the moats, the wall of enclosure including its towers, the floors and the trees included inside the wall of enclosure (cf. E 194-199) : Order of 1 July 1959
Key figures
Information non disponible - Historical owners
Identity not specified in the sources.
Origin and history
The Château de la Brosse-Raquin is a gentilhommière built mainly in the 15th century, although its origins date back to the 13th century. Located in the municipality of Tortezais, in the Allier department, it consists of a central house body framed by two towers to the north, as well as a polygonal turret housing a staircase. A second round turret, later added, serves another staircase. The ensemble retains remarkable architectural elements, such as ground column chimneys and coats of arms carved on a lintel and a chimney, bearing witness to its seigneurial past.
The estate, lined with moat and accessible by a bridge leading to the vegetable garden, was protected by two sharp turrets surrounding the entrance. In the west, a wall pierced with murderers delineated the forecourt, while an old guard body, still visible, supported a portal raised in the 17th century. Two isolated towers, connected to the castle by walls, reinforced the defence on the west side. The site, sold as a national property in 1793, was partially listed as a historical monument in 1947, then classified in 1959 for its facades, roofs, moats and walls.
The architecture of the castle reflects its evolution between the Middle Ages and the modern era, combining residential and defensive functions. The three fascist coat of arms, repeated on several elements, suggest the importance of the family owner, although its identity is not specified in the available sources. The vegetable garden, the farm yard and the trees included in the enclosure are also protected elements, illustrating the integration of the castle into a typical agricultural and seigneurial estate of Bourbonnais.
