Château de Cropières, Castle in Raulhac, Cantal, France

Château de Cropières is a pleasure castle built in an L shape around a rectangular courtyard, with a 17th-century west wing and a round tower with a conical roof at the right end of the long north wing. A monumental staircase leads to a terrace with a balustrade, where a bust of Louis XIV as the god Mars stands on a pedestal. An arched stone bridge crosses to the lower courtyard.

The fortress was founded in the 13th century and served as a residence for the Fontanges family across many generations. It later gained official protection status as a historical monument in 1986.

Cropières takes its name from the family that held it in the 13th century: Aymar de Cropières was its owner in 1263, and by 1362 the estate had passed to the Montjou family. The castle is also linked to Marie-Angélique de Fontanges (1661-1681), a favourite of Louis XIV, who is thought to have been born here. A bust on the west terrace shows the king as the god Mars.

The castle is private and cannot be visited; the grounds and interiors are closed to the public. An association, A.S.C. (Association pour la Sauvegarde du Château de Cropières), was set up to raise funds for repairs, first to halt the decay and consolidate what can be saved. Visitors can only see the exterior from the surrounding area in Raulhac.

The west wing's terrace balustrade centres on a bust of Louis XIV carved to resemble the god Mars, with a reclining lion at the foot and on each side of the monumental staircase. The north wing keeps masonry between its vaulted rooms that may survive from the medieval fortress. The château is not open to visitors.