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Origin and history

The Douzon castle, located in the town of Étroussat (Allier, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes), consists of the remains of a 14th century castle, marked by a square watchtower dungeon typical of bourbonese military architecture. This first building originally belonged to John d'Avenières, knight and lord of Douzon in the early 14th century. By successive marriage alliances, the seigneury passed to the families Châteauneuf, Rochedragon, then Chaussecourte before being passed on to the Audier and the Arfeuilles between the 16th and 17th centuries.

In 1723, a fire ravaged the medieval castle, leading to the construction of a new house in the 18th century by architect Clément, on behalf of François du Buysson (1704–169), Count of Douzon and king's officer. This castle, of classic style, presents a rectangular body on two levels with a roof pierced by egg-eyes, flanked by wings in return to the Mansart. The interiors preserve unfinished 18th-century decors in three major rooms: the office room, the dining room and the large living room.

The property changed hands in 1774, acquired by Louis-Charles-Antoine Girard, before being sold in 1803 to Jacques-Marie-Pierre Loisel, mayor of Étroussat and local political figure. The latter, anoublied in 1815 under the name of Loisel de Douzon, handed over the estate to his descendants, still owners today. The castle was classified as a historic monument in 1973, recognizing its heritage value as a medieval heritage and as a transformation of the Enlightenment.

The history of the castle was also marked by the French Revolution: Philibert du Buysson de Douzon (1736–93), deputy of the nobility in the general states of 1789, resigned in July 1789 before emigrating. Arrested on his return, he was guillotineed in Lyon in December 1793 with other notables of Bourbonnais, illustrating the political upheavals of the time.

Architecturally, the site bears witness to the evolution of military techniques (the 14th century dungeon) and aristocratic tastes (the 18th century interior decorations). Its ranking in 1973 underlines its importance as a preserved example of the adaptation of a medieval fortress into a seigneurial residence, reflecting the social and aesthetic changes of the Ancien Régime.

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