Timeline

Origin and history

The Château du Marchidial, located in Champeix in Puy-de-Dôme, is a medieval site whose first developments could go back to the eighth century, with a sumptuous terrace of the hill. Although little documented for this time, this first work suggests an ancient occupation of the place, probably linked to a need for defence or control of the surrounding territory.

The church of St John of Marchidal, built in the 12th century as a castral chapel, was integrated into the enclosure of the castle of Champeix. This religious building, which became parish church until the French Revolution in 1789, illustrates the evolution of the site, marked by successive destructions and reconstructions. In the 18th century, major changes, such as the addition of a round tower topped by a campanile on the northern facade, partially transformed its appearance.

After centuries of modifications, the castle is gradually transformed into an agricultural area bounded by walls. The chapel lost its parish status with the Revolution. In the 20th century, the association for the preservation of the Marchidial site, founded in 1988, began work on clearing and restoration. The volunteers revive the rocky spur, making the Marchidial gardens a renowned tourist site. The castle, listed as historical monuments, today bears witness to this military, religious and landscape heritage.

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