Château de Châteaugay, Medieval fortress in Châteaugay, France.
Château de Châteaugay is a medieval fortress with a square keep and two circular towers named Fort and Perrière. Its defensive walls are built from Volvic stone, a local material that gives the structure its distinctive appearance.
Pierre de Giac, chancellor to King Charles VI, built the fortress in 1381 on the ruins of an 11th-century castle. The construction site had been fortified for centuries before this medieval reconstruction.
The castle features in a significant 15th-century heraldic manuscript that documents fortifications across the Auvergne region. This historical record made it an important example of how medieval military architecture was understood and preserved in the region.
The site is open from Tuesday through Sunday afternoons, particularly during summer months from July to August. Visitors should prepare for uneven paths and steep stairs inside, which are typical of older fortified structures.
The castle cellar, known as Gaycoeur, preserves an old wine production tradition that was even recognized by King Henry IV. This underground chamber connects the site's military history with a local craft practice that continues to this day.
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