Château d'Arlempdes, Medieval castle in Arlempdes, France.

Château d'Arlempdes sits on a volcanic peak above the Loire Valley and combines natural rock formations with fortified walls. The castle contains six round towers, one square tower, and divided wall sections that reflect different periods of construction.

A papal bull of Clement IV mentions the castle in 1267. In 1450 a daughter of the baron of Maubec married Charles de Poitiers, making Diane de Poitiers dame d'Arlempdes; the Poitiers family restored and rebuilt the castle. It was pillaged in 1585 during the Wars of Religion. The Saint-Jacques chapel, the only remnant of the original castle, dates from the 12th century, with 13th-century foundations and 15th- and 16th-century fortifications.

The chapel Saint-Jacques, a separate building, is the only remnant of the original castle and dates from the 12th century, while the walls' foundations are 13th-century and the rest of the fortifications are 15th- and 16th-century work. The castle passed to Diane de Poitiers through the 1450 marriage of a daughter of the baron de Maubec to Charles de Poitiers, and the Poitiers family had it restored and rebuilt.

Access is arranged through the Manoir restaurant, where visitors can obtain entry tickets and keys. Guided tours are available during the summer months, particularly for groups that book in advance.

The south-east side, dropping sheer above the Loire, was left without fortification; the other sides carry walls flanked by six round towers and one square tower. A middle wall with a large round tower divides the site, leaving a broad esplanade to the south and the entrance and buildings to the north.