And if the best kept secret of Auvergne was on the side of the castles of Haute-Loire?
Meeting with three castellans among the forty castles in the department.
The XNUMXth century Château de Volhac, in Coubon
What is the history of the Château de Volhac?
Anne Müller : “We bought the castle in 1989, without being wealthy. We are, as they say, new squires”. It is above all an approach linked to our passion for heritage. She has animated us all our lives. My husband being a former cabinetmaker specializing in restoration and myself, an art historian and painter in painting restoration.
Have you performedhas restoration?
The castle, when we arrived, was in very poor condition but we chose to “live in the works”. We always wanted to make it a place open to culture with concerts, shows in the park and painting courses.
What is the specificity of the Château de Volhac?
The castle has watched over the banks of the Loire for a thousand years. It occupied, in the Middle Ages, a strategic position on the road linking the north to the south of France, passing through Le Puy-en-Velay. An underground passage, still visible and practicable today, built in the foundations and masonry with basalt organs led to the river to ensure the supply of water or the escape in the event of a siege.
What is daily life like in a castle?
A castellan spends his time working for his castle and travels turn into the comings and goings of bags of cement. We put everything we had, our time, our passion and we managed to keep the soul of the house. We respected this place and today, we live in History, we live in time while living with today's world”. Want to visit it?
Free visits throughout the year by appointment and guided tours in July/August.
The XNUMXth century Château d'Esplantas in Saugues
Dominique Servant : “I have had a passion for castles since childhood and particularly for medieval times. Installed in Langeac as a dental surgeon in 1985, I fell in love with the castle of Esplantas: the quality of the building, the age, its history.
Have you performedhe restoration at Esplantas Castle?
In the 1985th century, the castle was transformed into a farm, then abandoned by farmers and when we arrived, the outbuildings of the castle were used only for storage: the medieval kitchen was a forge workshop and the wooded living room, a carpentry workshop. In 20, the castle was divided between three owners. It took me XNUMX years to acquire the whole castle. It took perseverance and tenacity!
What is the specificity of Esplantas Castle?
The dungeon is unique in Haute-Loire. We were able, by analyzing 11 pieces of wood, to date its origin: oak felled in the winter of 1252. The dungeon is copied from Philippe Auguste, king of France and inventor of circular dungeons. Odilon de Mercœur, the builder of the castle wanted to reproduce the royal technology identically.
What is daily life like in a castle?
“You give everything, your privacy, everything. A castle is a daily work! »
Want to visit it? Guided tours are organized from mid-July to the end of August.
The XNUMXth century Château de Bouzol, in Arsac-en-Velay
What is vour history with this castle?
Jean-Louis De Brive : “I am a link in the history and transmission of this castle. I was not born into it and I inherited it late, in 2005. Very young, I remember the summers of playing in the castle. I had a military career that took me far from the Haute-Loire, but in difficult situations, I dreamed of the castle, its terrace and its magnificent view of the wild Loire.
Have you performedhe restoration at the Château de Bouzols?
The castle returned to the family in 1808, in a state of ruins and my great-grandfather began the restoration. Today, I make sure to preserve and maintain the existing one: I will finish restoring all the zincs of the Tour de l'Oratoire this year. To know the evolution of the building of the citadel, I also surround myself with archeology students who make surveys to date the periods with precision.
What is the specificity of Esplantas Castle?
An interior ditch carved into the rock that cannot be seen from the outside. A secret moat, a veritable mousetrap. An ingenious defensive system that made the castle impregnable!
What is daily life like in a castle?
Animate and share! In 2013, when I retired, I created an association, opened the castle to the public, and now I offer a cultural program in the summers, the “Mondays of Bouzols” around lyrical music and theatre. It is also to share history with schoolchildren on the medieval era. All with one purpose: to pass it on to the next generation so that it all continues. »
Want to visit it? Guided tours take place from late June to mid-September.
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