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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Château de Veauce is a castle whose origins date back to the 11th century, built on a rocky promontory in Veauce, in the department of Allier. Originally conceived as a medieval fortress, it was largely redesigned in the 13th, 15th, 18th and 19th centuries. Its five towers, including an 11th century square tower and a 13th century watchtower culminating at 45 metres, illustrate its architectural evolution. The dungeon, nicknamed the "undressed tower" due to its incomplete crenellation, was raised around 1850, as was the clock tower, an ancient feudal guard tower.

In the Middle Ages, the castle belonged to the Sires de Veauce and then to the Bourbons in the 12th century. In 1400 the seigneury was erected in barony by Louis II de Bourbon for the benefit of Robert Dauphin. After the death of the connétable Charles III de Bourbon in 1527, the estate returned to the crown. Between 1700 and 1970 he passed into the hands of noble families such as the Chauvigny de Blot, the Cadier de Veauce, and Baron Charles de Cadier de Veauce, Member of Parliament for the Allier (1852-1870), who undertook major renovations between 1841 and 1846, giving him his present appearance.

The castle is also famous for its legend of the "phantom of Lucie", a young dead servant imprisoned in the Tower of the Clock in the 16th century. This story, popularized in the 20th century by the owner Ephraim Tagori and a show by France Inter in 1984, attracts paranormal enthusiasts. In 2006, a partial collapse of the dungeon accelerated its degradation, before its acquisition in 2002 by Elisabeth Mincer. Since 2015, the Universum Endowment Fund (ex-Calligramme) has been working on its restoration and transformation into an accessible cultural centre.

Ranked a historic monument in 1985 for its facades, roofs and enclosures, the castle also includes protected outbuildings since 2011, such as the Noix Manor or the stud. Its architecture blends medieval defensive elements (murder, covered round road) and 19th century additions, such as the doorway or the outdoor terrace. The Charroux stone, used for the watch tower, and the fossils visible in its walls recall its unique geological anchor.

The gardens to the south and east contrast with the Colettes forest to the west. The village of Veauce, on the northeast, completes this picturesque setting. Despite the damage suffered (invasive vegetation in the dungeon, collapses), the site remains a significant testimony of feudal history and the aristocratic transformations of the Second Empire.

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