Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The castle of Longevialle, built around 1690 by Antoine Guerin Falcon de Longevialle, replaces an occupation attested from the 16th century. It remained the property of this family until 1958, evolving into a horse iron building with two forebodys, before being partially dismantled during the construction of the Grandval dam. Decorative elements are then saved and resettled in nearby homes, while the main body, spared in 1961, returns to the Longevialle, but falls into ruins due to lack of maintenance.

In 1979, the Margeride ecomuseum bought the castle and launched its restoration, crowned with the Prix Chefs-d'oeuvre en peril in 1980 and an inscription in the Historic Monuments in 1986 for its facades, roofs and granite staircase. Despite these efforts, the south wing, threatened by the collapse of its roof, pushed the Garabit-Grandval Joint Union to resell it in 2001 to Jean-Yves de Longevialle, who resumed work to restore the castle to its pre-1958 appearance, returning to woodwork and original chimneys.

Architecturally, the castle is distinguished by its two-level "U" plan, its cellars, and an honorary staircase with wrought iron ramp, supported by four granite columns. The seigneurial house coexisted with agricultural spaces (stables, barns), reflecting a typical organization of the rural estates of the Ancien Régime. The site, linked to the Hundred Years' War and the last Duguesclin battle, suggests a seigneury long before the 16th century, although today's remains date mostly from the 18th century.

Ranked for its elevations and staircase, the castle today illustrates the challenges of preserving heritage in the face of modern projects (such as the Grandval Dam) and the hazards of time. Its ongoing restoration aims to reconstruct its interior decor, while perpetuating its link with the Longevialle family, inseparable from its history for more than three centuries.

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