Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Château de Vigouroux, located in the Cantal, consists historically of two ensembles: a medieval fortress, the capital of a castle linked to the Viscounts of Murat and Carlat until 1791, and an adjacent pleasure castle, built by the Berthomier family. The original fortress, attested from the 11th century, was destroyed in 1360 by Jean Chandos, lieutenant of the King of England. Its ruins partially served to build the present castle in the sixteenth century, of which only the Renaissance home remains today.

The seigneury of Vigouroux, initially dependent on the vicounty of Murat, changed hands several times over the centuries. Confiscated to Jacques d'Armagnac in 1477, it was attributed to Jean de L In 1641, Louis XIII offered to Honoré II Grimaldi of Monaco, whose descendants kept it until the Revolution. The modern castle, rebuilt in the 18th century by the Lastic (especially Annet V), lost one floor and saw the addition of a wing in square, while the tower of archives was razed during the Revolution.

Lastic's family, which emerged from the alliance between Annet I and a Berthomier heiress in 1616, deeply marked the history of the castle. Joseph-Annet de Lastic (1772-1866), page of Louis XVI and then chamberlain of Empress Josephine, illustrated this line before the estate was sold around 1845 to Mr. Beaufils-Coste. The present castle, classified as a Historical Monument in 1987, preserves Renaissance architectural elements (windows with crosses, towers) and 18th century interior decorations, such as wallpapers and armored stained glass windows.

The old castle, of which only foundations remain, housed a chapel dedicated to Saint Laurent. The site, strategically located in Carladès, reflects feudal struggles and architectural transformations between the Middle Ages and the modern era. The materials of the destroyed fortress were reused to build the stables of the present castle, symbolizing the transition between defensive function and seigneurial residence.

Today, the castle of Vigouroux, protected for its home, its fenced courtyard and its interiors, bears witness to nearly a thousand years of history, from medieval vicomtes to the noble families of the Ancien Régime, through revolutionary upheavals. Its hybrid architecture and intact décor make it a remarkable example of the Auvergnat castral heritage.

External links