Montgilbert Castle

Montgilbert Castle
	The remains of the fortified gate with the entrance to the main castle
Creation time :	13th Century
Castle type :	Hilltop castle
Conservation status:	ruin
Standing position :	Noble
Place:	Ferrières-sur-Sichon
Geographical location	46 ° 2 '18.5 " N , 3 ° 37' 24" E Coordinates: 46 ° 2 '18.5 " N , 3 ° 37' 24" E

The castle Montgilbert is the ruins of a medieval hilltop castle site , which is in the town of Ferrières-sur-Sichon located about 25 kilometers southeast of Vichy French Allier .

architecture

Montgilbert Castle, built in the 13th century, sits on top of a rocky hill on one of the bends of the Vareille , a small tributary of the Sichon .

An outer curtain wall , which is adapted to the terrain, strengthens the protection to the west and south, the sides with the weakest slope. The castle had loopholes and round towers and bounded the courtyard of the outer castle . The curtain wall was rebuilt in the 15th century to adapt it to the new weapon technology. Gun stands for cannons and a bulwark with thick walls closed the endangered, original entrance gate.

The inner, higher ring wall with a square floor plan is bordered by round corner towers in which vaults are still preserved. The wall used to have a battlement . A gate with portcullis , flanked by two round towers , provides access to the inner courtyard of the main castle . In addition to the stately living and representation area, there were utility rooms (including the kitchen with its large fireplace) as well as a granary and the cistern for drinking water. The basement rooms are still preserved under the manor house with its access stairs. A covered gallery was placed in front of the main castle buildings.

Since the 15th century, the buildings of the main castle have been made more comfortable: Windows have been broken out and an access ramp to the exit gate was built. The castle was later left to its own devices, the common rooms abandoned and the windows walled up.

history

The castle was built around 1259 at the time of Louis IX. Built by the Saint-Gérand family on the border between Auvergne and the Forez and Bourbonnais regions . The Aycelin family acquired the facility around 1280. Its members were rich citizens from Auvergne who were later ennobled . By marriage, the castle came into the possession of the de Vienne family.

During the Hundred Years War , the Spanish mercenary Rodrigue de Villandrando , who fought for the Duke of Bourbon , seized the castle and occupied it from 1434 to 1439. During these years the fortifications of the system were adapted to modern weapon technology.

During the Renaissance , the castle lost its importance as the residence of its owners, the de Saulx-Tavannes family. After the Wars of Religion , the Bourbonnais finally belongs to the French kingdom. During the time of Louis XIV , the owners lived at the court in Paris. Some parts of the castle were abandoned and began to decline.

Around 1770 the last heir, Jean Baptiste Bravard d'Eyssat Duprat, returned to Montgilbert with his mother. In order to force the son to leave the castle, this had statically important connections in the entablature removed. During the French Revolution, the buildings fell into disrepair. In 1793 they became state property and were sold.

In the 19th century, the farmers in the area used the castle as a quarry, which accelerated the decline. In 1973 an association for the preservation and renovation of the ruin was founded.

Web links

Commons : Burg Montgilbert - Collection of images, videos and audio files

Website of the Association for the Preservation of the Ruins (French)
Detailed description and history of the castle (French)