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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Château de Lamothe, mentioned from the fourteenth century, is located on the town of Puycapel (formerly associated with Calvinet) in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes. Although of medieval origin, it never had a military vocation and was transmitted over the centuries by family alliances, especially to the Roquefort, Gausserand and Bonnafos families from 1713 onwards. Its current architecture is the result of major changes in the 18th and 19th centuries, with a romantic western wing incorporating neo-Gothic elements and a tower.

In 1793, the castle escaped revolutionary destruction thanks to Joseph Timothy of Bonnafos, veteran of the American War of Independence. The monument was preserved in its entirety, including its interior decorations (lounges, office, dining room with wallpaper) and its gardens structured in terraces, alleys and grounds. The outbuildings, such as the chapel, stables or chestnut dryer, bear witness to its central role in local agricultural and seigneurial life.

The castle was listed as a Historic Monument on 15 September 1993, recognizing its heritage value. The architect Henri Rapine, in chief of the Historical Monuments, was involved in the layout of the large living room. Today, the estate retains a strategic location on the edge of the D66 departmental road, between Calvinet and Cassaniouze, on a territory marked by the rural history of the Cantal.

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