Total protection 2019 (≈ 2019)
Registration of the whole (logis, tower, enclosures).
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
Fronts and roofs of the house and corner turret; Baluster staircase; next rooms with decoration; living room on the ground floor, library and bedroom with rummage fireplace on the first floor, green room and so-called room on the second floor (Box AB 214 to 216): inscription by order of 24 June 1977; The house-forte de la Cloze, in total, comprising the house, the tower, the fortified gate and the enclosure with its fence wall, located rue de la Côte (cad. AB 212, 214, 215 and 216): inscription by order of 16 July 2019
Key figures
François Ravel - Royal Notary (17th century)
Owner, family linked to the strong house.
Pierre Faure - Lawyer in Parliament
Gendre of François Ravel, later owner.
Cardinal de Rohan - Last Abbé Commandataire
Attended the house in 1786.
Origin and history
The fortified house of La Chaise-Dieu, also known as Maison de la Cloze, is a key element of the 15th century fortified enclosure of the city. Built in the 16th century to defend the western gate, it includes a tower, a scauguette and a round road with mâchicoulis. Its route follows the ramparts of the village, between the streets of the Côte and the Fossés. The religious conflicts of the sixteenth century damaged the structure, requiring repairs attested by the date of 1591 engraved on the gate of the tower.
In the 18th century, the fort house was renovated to adopt a provincial style inspired by Paris and the Rhône Valley, with refined interior decorations (pathways, panelling, French ceilings). The north-west facade, which remained intact, contrasts with the additions of the 19th century: Gothic windows and crenelage above the gate. The property, formerly linked to the Ravel family (royal notaries in the 17th century), would have welcomed Cardinal Rohan, the last abbot commandate of the abbey, in 1786 during his exile.
Acquired in 2013 by an individual after a decade of occupation, the strong house is being restored. Its access remains limited, open only at European Heritage Days. Partially classified in 1977 (façades, roofs, interior decorations), it has been listed as a historic monument since 2019, including the house, the tower, the fortified gate and the walled enclosure.
The transformations of the 18th and 19th centuries changed its appearance: the disappearance of the pre-revolutionary echuguette, the piercing of neogothic windows, and the partial reconstruction of the wall. The tower, preserved despite the demolition of the town gate, and the building body is, preserving its medieval openings, bear witness to its architectural evolution.
The strong house illustrates the adaptation of a defensive building in aristocratic residence, reflecting regional artistic influences and comfort needs over the centuries. Its history is linked to local dynamics, from the wars of Religion to modern redevelopments, to its role in the social life of La Chaise-Dieu.
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