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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

Valprivas Castle, located in the Haute-Loire department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, is a building dating back to the 15th century. Built on an initial square plane, it was flanked by two round towers at the northwest and southwest angles. Transformed in the 16th century by owners who added an exterior Renaissance decor, it also underwent modifications in the 18th century, including the piercing of bays. In 1793, the castle lost its southwest angle and its corresponding tower, altering its original structure.

The chapel of the castle, located on the ground floor, is a remarkable element with its arched nave of warheads and its choir separated by a wall surmounted by claustra. The north and east walls of the choir are decorated with oil-based oil paintings on lime mortar, made around 1632, representing Hell and Resurrection. These works, attributed to Flemish artists of the second Lyon school, bear witness to contemporary artistic influences of the second Fontainebleau school. The chapel was listed as a historic monument in 1994, while the rest of the castle was listed in 1949.

The oldest document mentioning Valprivas dates back to 1341, well before the current castle was built. The building thus illustrates centuries of architectural and artistic history, mixing medieval heritage, Renaissance and subsequent transformations. Its gate closes an inner courtyard framed by the main body and two wings in return, reflecting its structural evolution over time.

Today, Valprivas Castle remains a testament to the architectural changes and artistic tastes of successive owners. Its interior decoration, including the paintings of the chapel, and its initial defensive elements make it a monument representative of the historical heritage of the Haute-Loire. The accuracy of its location is assessed as satisfactory, with an address confirmed in place of Carl de Nys, in the village of Valprivas.

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