First mention of the place vers 1000 (≈ 1000)
Azinière was first quoted.
vers 1350
Transition to co-seigneuria
Transition to co-seigneuria vers 1350 (≈ 1350)
End of the unique seigneury of Azinière.
milieu du XVe siècle
End of the eponymous family
End of the eponymous family milieu du XVe siècle (≈ 1550)
Disappearance of the knights of Azinière.
19 décembre 1985
Registration for Historic Monuments
Registration for Historic Monuments 19 décembre 1985 (≈ 1985)
Protection of facades, roofs and interior elements.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
Facades and roofs; ground floor fireplace, 18S room on the first floor; sculpted heads on the first floor in the basement (see box). A 591) : entry by order of 19 December 1985
Key figures
Famille d'Azinière - Lords and knights
Owners of the fief until the 15th.
Origin and history
The house is a medieval building located in the commune of Saint-Georges-d'Aurac, Haute-Loire, in the former historical region of Auvergne. The place called Azinière, where it is located, is mentioned for the first time around the year 1000. This site was once the fief of a chivalry family with the same name, which exercised its authority until the middle of the 15th century. At that time, the fief was under the influence of the Barony of Aubusson. Around 1350, the seigneury of Azinière became a co-seigneury, marking an evolution in its feudal organization.
The fort house originally had a fortified enclosure crowned with mâchicoulis, characteristic of the defensive buildings of the time. Today, it consists mainly of a quasi-square wooden tower, surrounded at its base by a talute escarp and flanked by a semi-outwork staircase turret. An appentis, backed by its southern façade, forms a forebody. Inside, the intersole floor preserves lava sculptures, including an archaic capital representing a donkey probably surmounted by a cock, which could symbolize the coat of arms of the seigneurial family. Three other sculpted figures, including one covering the bottom of the face and two others in Romanesque style, add to his mystery.
The architecture of the Azinière Fort House is representative of many similar buildings in the Haute-Loire. Its facades, roofs, the fireplace on the ground floor, an 18th century room and the carved heads of the entresol were inscribed as historical monuments by order of 19 December 1985. These protected elements testify to its heritage importance and the richness of its history, mixing medieval heritage and subsequent transformations.
