Château de Mercœur dans le Cantal

Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

The castle of Mercœur, built in the 12th century by the comptours of Apchon at the place known as the Peu, was then strengthened by the family of Mercœur. This strategic site, located on the edge of departmental road 114 in Allanche (Cantal), was completely razed in 1632 on royal or local order, leaving only limited remains: a round tower drum, vaulted rooms, a wall section of enclosure and a probable room of weapons. The only elements still standing today mainly date from the 15th century, including a building whose facade and roof were inscribed as historical monuments in 1949.

The current remains include a two-storey building with a stone staircase leading to a molded Gothic gate, topped by a braided lintel. Two large snout windows illuminate the interior parts, while three mâchicoulis – including a angle supported by biased crows – protect access under the roof. Inside, two stone fireplaces have an oval shield decorated with three stars and a lying moon quarter. An artistic interpretation of the original castle appears on a stained glass window of the local neogothic chapel, built on the initiative of Canon Raymond Fleuret.

The property of the remains has changed hands over the centuries: in 1949, the facade and roof belonged to Mademoiselle Reiss, teacher at Condat-en-Féniers, while in 1978 Maurice Peschaud quoted among the owners Maxence Delmas and Antonin Dégieux. The site is sometimes confused with the fortified Chapel de La Salle farm, located below, but distinct from the historic castle. There is no written record of the exact reasons for its destruction in 1632, although the religious or political conflicts of the time (Thirty Years' War, repression of noble revolts) may explain this rasing.

External links