Château de Montrond

Château de Montrond is a castle ruin on a hilltop southwest of the town center in Saint-Amand-Montrond, central France. Stone walls, bastions, and fragments of towers form an irregular layout that follows the natural shape of the hill.

A fortress stood here by the 9th century, documented from 1225 as part of the regional defense network. In 1652, an eleven-month siege ended when twenty survivors surrendered to forces loyal to Louis XIV.

The name Montrond means round hill, describing the natural elevation where builders first raised fortifications more than a millennium ago. Locals still refer to the ruins as simply le château when giving directions or meeting visitors near the entrance.

The ruins lie a short walk uphill from the edge of town and offer open views across the surrounding landscape. Information panels stand along the paths and explain the different construction phases and defensive features.

The Duke of Sully commissioned architect Jean Sarrazin to redesign the site from 1606 and add new bastions between 1621 and 1652. This late work gave the medieval fortress a more modern appearance shortly before its destruction.

Location: Saint-Amand-Montrond

Address: Montrond

Website: http://forteresse-montrond.fr

GPS coordinates: 46.72278,2.49556

Latest update: December 4, 2025 19:05