Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Château de Lescure stands on a mound overlooking the Brezons valley, on the commune of Saint-Martin-sous-Viguroux, in the Cantal. Its current structure includes a four-storey rectangular tower, with mâchicoulis, originally dating from the 11th century but partially destroyed during the Hundred Years War. Restored in the 15th century with one floor less, it was completed in the 17th century by an adjacent house body. This monument illustrates an architectural evolution marked by the conflicts and residential needs of medieval and modern times.

The castle was divided among several noble families. One part belonged to the Brezon family, including the Duchess of Harcourt in 1668. The other party passed successively to the families of Gasc, then from Bonnafos de Bélinay, until the marriage of Marguerite de Bonafos in 1714 with Guillaume de Lastic-Viguroux, lord of the Fontio. The latter, in debt, saw the castle temporarily acquired by Voltaire via a usury loan, which was finally cancelled by Parliament. These transmissions reflect the matrimonial and financial strategies of the local aristocracy.

Ranked a Historic Monument in 1995, the Château de Lescure protects remarkable elements: the terrace, the remains of the outer enclosure, the dungeon rooms with their fireplaces, as well as interior woodwork and decorations from the 17th and 18th centuries. These protections highlight the heritage value of a building combining medieval defensive and classic residential functions, characteristic of the castles of Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes.

External links