Château de Bien-Assis

Château de Bien-Assis was a castle in Clermont-Ferrand featuring a main structure with six windows and two large pavilions positioned near the Chanturgue slopes. The property sat in the Carmes district with views toward the city and its surrounding landscape.

The castle was built around 1450 and first appeared in Guillaume Revel's armorial as a view of Clermont behind its fortifications. In the early 20th century it was purchased by Michelin and demolished in 1914 to make way for a factory.

The place was closely tied to philosopher Blaise Pascal, who lived here with his brother-in-law Florin Périer and worked on his writings. The family used the castle as a center for intellectual work and as a repository for important documents related to philosophical thought.

The site no longer exists today as the original building was demolished in the early 20th century. Visitors can only explore the history of the place by visiting the neighborhood where the castle once stood.

The original manuscripts of Pascal's Pensées were stored here for over 50 years by his sister Gilberte Périer before being passed on to posterity. This collection was a key reason why the castle held importance in French intellectual history.

Location: Clermont-Ferrand

Inception: 15 century

GPS coordinates: 45.78294,3.08894

Latest update: December 9, 2025 20:25