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Origin and history

Viverols Castle, located in the Puy-de-Dôme, is one of the most important remains of feudal military architecture in the region of Ambert. Its history potentially dates back to the 11th century, where a primitive tower was built by Jocob de Viverols, before being destroyed under Louis XI. The present building took shape in the 13th century under William III of Baffia, says the old, which made it a defensive fortress during the Forez wars. This conflict, triggered by an estate dispute between Guillaume and Guy IV de Forez, between the two lords for fifty years, mixing vassalic alliances and intermittent battles.

The medieval enclosure, flanked by pierced archer towers, protects a stone dungeon, likely remains of a primitive castral motte. In the 16th century, the east and west fronts were transformed into seigneurial houses, one dedicated to the garrison, the other to the lord, served by a monumental screw staircase. A scald and a drawbridge (the traces of which remain) complete the defences. In the 17th century, an entrance pavilion and a building flanked by a scallop were added. A fire partially ravages the home at the end of the 19th century, but the current owners have been working since 2019 to enhance its tourism, integrating the castle with local life.

The site is marked by a local legend, The cursed girls of Pardon the Black, linked to three trees (now disappeared) overlooking a tower. The curse, thrown by a witch, would have turned the Lord's three daughters into still trees, their complaints still resonating on summer nights. Ranked a Historic Monument in 1926, the castle is visited in summer and preserves remarkable elements: 13th century archeries, Renaissance chimneys, a coat of arms well, and a medieval poterne. Its pentagonal plan, four towers and houses reflect the architectural evolutions between the Middle Ages and the modern era.

Architecturally, the castle illustrates the transition between the medieval fortress and the seigneurial residence. The north side, the most exposed, concentrates the defences (eleven archères), while the east and west facades, redesigned in the Renaissance, house more comfortable living spaces. The large staircase with screws, with veins falling on a central core, bears witness to the know-how of 16th century artisans. The inner courtyard, organised around a well, reveals the importance of water and power symbols. Today, the castle, a private property, participates in the tourist development of Viverols, offering a panorama of the military and social history of the Auvergne.

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