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Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Château de Villemonteix, located in Saint-Pardoux-les-Cards in the Creuse (Nouvelle-Aquitaine), is a fourth quarter building of the 15th century, modified in the 18th and 19th centuries. It was built to control strategic access to Ahun. Its architecture combines a body of rectangular houses flanked by round towers and a square staircase tower, with scauguettes and a round path with mâchicoulis. The courtyard houses a hexagonal well adorned with quadrilobes, while a tricentennial linden and a fortified dovecot (XV–XVI centuries) complete the whole. Inside, tapestries from Aubusson (XVI–XVIII centuries), stamped furniture, and a rare Pleyel double piano linked to the Reinach-Camondo family, deported during the Second World War, testify to its rich past.

The castle has had several notable owners. In the 18th century, the Marquis de Biencourt organized a monarchist plot there during the Revolution. He then went to Charles de la Barre, Viscount de Bridiers (1803), then to Mme Aubert, widow of a notary of Boussac (1888), before being acquired by the Sallandrouze family, manufacturers of Aubusson. Ranked a historic monument in 1946, it is now inhabited by Pierre Lajoix, who bought it in 1982 and opened it to the public. The 17th and 18th century developments include panelled rooms, outbuildings (blangery, stable), and gardens (verger, vegetable garden), reflecting the evolution of its residential and agricultural functions.

The architectural complex, protected by several stops (1932, 1946, 2010), illustrates the transition between medieval fortress and seigneurial residence. Listed elements include facades, roofs, enclosures, gates, and gardens. The castle also houses a table service in porcelain of Sèvres (XVIII century) and tapestry cartons signed Isaac Moillon, highlighting its link with the local craftsmanship of Aubusson. Its recent history is marked by the preservation of this heritage, open to visit while remaining a private residence.

Archaeological sources, such as Xavier Pagazani's (2024) work, highlight his role as the "body of houses made in dungeon" of the 15th century, typical of Limous defensive architecture. The outbuildings and the dovecote, renovated in the 18th and 19th centuries, testify to the adaptation of the estate to agricultural and seigneurial needs. The Château de Villemonteix thus embodies five centuries of history, between feudal power, political intrigues, and artistic heritage.

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