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Key figures

Origin and history

The Castle of the Bost is a 15th century building built in 1411 during the reign of Charles VII. The Bost seigneury, mentioned from the beginning of this century, belonged to a family with the name of the place. The castle, surrounded by water and equipped with a park of 5 hectares, underwent several changes, especially in the 19th century with the addition of a tower and wing, giving it a plan in U. It was owned by noble families such as the Sea of Matha or the Chapus, before being acquired by the city in 1956.

Between 1941 and 1944, the castle served as a summer residence for Philippe Pétain, head of the French State. From 1956 to 1995, he housed a nursing home. After a rehabilitation, it reopened in 2013 as a hotel-restaurant, with spaces dedicated to municipal events. A 17th century buffet, classified as a historical monument in 1962, bears witness to its furniture heritage.

The estate includes a pond and a park, while the communes, visible on the 1839 cadastre, border the road. The castle illustrates the architectural and functional evolution of the seigneurial residences, from aristocratic residence to public and tourist.

Located near Vichy, in the Allier department, Bost Castle is part of the historical landscape of Bourbonnais. Its history reflects the political and social transformations of France, from feudality to contemporary times.

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