Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The castle of Seilhac finds its origins in a chestnutry attested from the beginning of the twelfth century. The polygonal tower, characteristic of the site, was probably built between the late 13th and early 14th centuries. This first medieval building was partially destroyed during the Wars of Religion in 1586, before being rebuilt. The remains of this period include a medieval dome in the south tower and preserved structures on the ground floor.

During the French Revolution, the castle suffered heavy damage in 1792 and was then used as a stone quarry. At the beginning of the 19th century, the facades were refurbishing: the south-west facade adopted a Renaissance style, while the south-east facade reflected the tastes of the 19th century. The tower, though medieval, was equipped with Renaissance openings and decorative elements like capital pilasters decorated with volutes. The mâchicoulis and round path, added later, are not original.

Among the remarkable elements, a scalable turret houses a spiral staircase leading to the old round road. The double-revolution staircase was built after World War I. In 2021, the facades, roofs, and some elements of the park were protected by an inscription to the Historic Monuments, highlighting the heritage value of this site marked by nearly eight centuries of history.

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