Château de Villemont, Ruined castle in Vensat, France.
Château de Villemont is a ruined noble residence built around a hexagonal courtyard of honor enclosed by walls featuring square balusters. The grounds also include low rectangular stable buildings spread across the property.
Originally part of the County of Montpensier, the castle was seized by King Francis I in 1547 following the treason of Charles III de Bourbon. A devastating fire destroyed much of it in 1958.
The name reflects the Villemont family who ruled these lands for generations. Visitors can sense how this fortress once dominated the valley as a seat of local power.
Access is via the country road towards Vensat, and the ruins are mostly walkable although some areas are unstable. Wear sturdy shoes and watch for uneven ground throughout the site.
King Charles IX and Catherine de Medici visited the castle in 1566 during their royal tour of France. This visit shows how important the site still was at that time.
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