Château du Chier de Barmont dans la Creuse

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Origin and history

The château du Chier de Barmont, also known as château du Chet, is located at the place called Le Chet, in the commune of Saint-Avit-de-Tardes, in the department of Creuse. Nestled in the Tardes Valley, it is about 10 km southeast of Aubusson, accessible by the School Road. Surrounded by farm bodies and houses, it dominates a typical landscape of the Haute Marche, an area marked by its medieval history and strategic stakes.

The early construction of the castle dates back to at least the 15th century, as evidenced by a 1423 document linked to the marriage of the local lord. At that time, the region, close to a border disputed during the Hundred Years War, was coveted by the English. The fortress then played a defensive role in this confrontational territory of the High March. Between the 16th and 17th centuries, the castle was radically remodelled by the family of La Roche-Aymon, which modified its architecture to adapt it to the changes of the period.

After the French Revolution, the castle was acquired around 1800 by the general of the Empire Jean-Louis-Brigitte Spain, who transformed it into a recreational residence. He removed the defensive elements, such as the round path replaced by a chaining, and pierced many windows to modernize the building. When he died in 1809, the property changed hands seven times before being bought in 2009 by Monsieur and Madame Malveau, who undertook his restoration. Since then, the castle has been open to the public, especially during Heritage Days, and houses a communications consulting company.

The restoration, still under way, started with urgent work such as the felling of some 50 trees in the park, neglected by previous owners. Since 2015, visits have contributed to the financing of local projects, such as the renovation of the roof of the church of Saint-Avit-de-Tardes. The castle thus illustrates a transition between military function, seigneurial residence and valued cultural heritage.

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