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Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The castle of La Vigne, located in Ally in the Cantal, finds its origins in the 15th century when Louis II de Scorailles, sénéchal du Berry and chamberlain de Charles VII, built it around 1440 on the site of a farm or hunting lodge. This castle replaces the former fortress of Escoralles, abandoned after the Hundred Years War (1337-1437) due to its deterioration. Marquès de Scorailles, grandson of Louis II, completed its construction between 1470 and 1485, marking the definitive transfer of the family residence from Escorailles.

In the 16th century, the castle was enriched under François de Scorailles, knight of the king's orders and veteran of the Italian wars. He added a body of west house, a ditch, and decorated the studiolo (1525) with Renaissance motifs, while a daily mass was founded in the chapel in 1551. The castle became a place of passage for the aristocracy: in 1650, Jean de Scorailles welcomed Claire-Clémence de Maillé, princess of Condé, fleeing Mazarin to organize the resistance.

The 18th and 19th centuries saw major changes: the southeast tower was destroyed and later replaced by a scauguette, while Bertrand d'Humières, by his marriage with Anne-Charlotte de Scorailles in 1743, modernized the castle. The local tradition also evokes a stay of Jean-Jacques Rousseau in 1769. In the 20th century, the castle played a role in the Resistance (1942-1945) by sheltering Jewish children saved by the Garel network. Since 1991, its interior decorations (chapelle, living room, Troubadour room) have been classified as Historic Monuments.

The castle is distinguished by its studiolo, rare in France, adorned with 16th century murals inspired by Ovid and cynegetic scenes. The chapel preserves Renaissance frescoes, while the park offers an orientation table (2021) revealing the Cantal Mountains. Open to the public since the 1970s, it also houses private collections of miniature cars and dolls.

His recent history is marked by restorations: in 2014, a program funded by the Fondation François-Sommer and Crédit Agricole revealed paintings of 1530, including toneds depicting Pyramus and Thysbé. The Association des Amis du château de La Vigne (created in 2013) works for its preservation, while excavations in 2014-2015 identify the studiolo, formerly called the justice room.

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