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Key figures

Origin and history

The Château de la Touratte, located in the Cher department in Arcomps, is an ancient fortress dating from the 11th and 12th centuries. Built of stones and bricks, it extends over 1,300 m2 with a park of 9 hectares, surrounded by moat. Originally, four towers protected the building, one partially destroyed today. The tallest tower peaked at 20 metres, while the dungeon, renovated in 1760, bore traces of conflicts such as the 1870 war, which interrupted the work. Its gargoyles and coat of arms – two lions frame a coat of arms with croissants and golden chevrons – recall its seigneurial heritage, with the motto "Beware of claws".

The first attested occupants date back to 1392, with Claude de Buchepot, seigneur of Épineuil and d'Orval, as the first known resident. Seven generations of the Peyroux family followed. The castle gave its name to a local cheese factory, sharing the same place called La Touratte. Its current architecture, marked by defensive and residential elements, reflects the transformations that occurred until the end of the 19th century, mixing medieval heritage and subsequent adaptations.

The structure combines military features (doves, towers) and prestige symbols (arms, gargoyles). The coat of arms, "set: at 1, Azure to the golden chevron accompanied by three croissants; to 2, from mouths to three golden chevrons", stresses the heraldic importance of the site. Although partially modified, the castle remains a testament to the seigneurial and agricultural dynamics of the region, linked to its estate and its outbuildings such as cheesemaking.

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