Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

Estang Castle is a small village in Marmanhac, Cantal, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region. The current building, built in the 17th century, rests on the foundations of a 15th century castle. Its main façade, oriented to the east, presents a vaulted portal in basket handle framed with ionic columns. Four 15th-century circular foothills remain on the left, indicating that this section retains two original levels, including a north gate.

The castle belonged to the Malpel family in the 13th century, then passed in 1321 to the Vigneroux family through the marriage of Alix Malpel with Géraud Vigneroux. He remained in this line until Antoine-Louis d'Estang, who died before 1743. His widow, Guillemette Green de Saint-Marsault, remarried in 1753 with Jean-Joseph de Scorailles, the last owner of this branch. In 1820, notary Louis Geneste became its owner and bequeathed it to his son Jean-Baptiste, whose descendant Émile Geneste became mayor of Aurillac.

Ranked a historic monument in 2005, the castle is not visited. His archives, acquired in 2009 by the Departmental Archives of Cantal, document his family and architectural history. The site illustrates the evolution of the auvergnatian genthrommières, mixing medieval heritage and classical transformations.

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