Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Château de Vaux, located in Saint-Julien-du-Pinet in Haute-Loire, is a monument whose origins date back to the end of the 14th century with the construction of its dungeon. This first medieval building marks the beginning of a history linked to defence and seigneurial habitat in this area of Auvergne, then characterized by feudal society and local tensions.

In 1653, the estate passed into the hands of the Jourda de Vaux family, which remained its owner until today. This change of ownership coincides with a period of political stabilization in France after the disturbances of the Wars of Religion, where castles gradually lose their defensive role to become aristocratic residences. The Jourda family, notably illustrated by Marshal Noël Jourda de Vaux, embodies this transition to an Earth nobility rooted in its territory.

The late 19th century marks a major architectural turning point for the castle. Between 1893 and 1895, an ambitious construction campaign was carried out: the architect Monnier redesigned the park, while the old buildings were demolished to give way to a reconstruction led by architect Martin. The painter Mayoli intervened in 1895 to decorate the interiors, mixing Gothic and eclectic styles. These transformations reflect the taste of the era for neo-Gothic and bourgeois comfort, while preserving medieval elements such as the dungeon.

The castle is finally recognized for its heritage value and listed as historic monuments by order of 24 May 1996. This protection concerns not only the building itself, but also its remarkable interior decorations, such as the chapel, the gothic salon or the salamander room, testimonies of the 19th century restoration campaigns.

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