Prieuré-Château

English translation

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History

The family of Saint-Arcons occupies the fortified premises until the 13th century, then the building passes to different families. In the 14th century, the De Peyre family give the castle, as a priory, to the Benedictine abbey of Les Chazes. This priory was united to the abbatial demesne in 1403. The castle today presents a rectangular building block leaning, on the south-east side, on the parish church. The north-east façade opens onto the interior courtyard with maçonned retaining ramparts. In this courtyard various built vestiges still appear. The façade on the Allier preserves a semi-circular projecting tower, having retained flanking loopholes. The façade on the courtyard is flanked at its centre by a spiral staircase tower (15th century), in 3/4 projection. This tower opens with a door with a horizontal lintel with upper projection forming a drip with lateral springings on a shield. The semi-circular tower is covered with a sexpartite rib vault with central springing in penetration on the core of the staircase. This vault has retained interesting painted vestiges (Annunciation of the 16th century?). These constructions from the 11th to 15th century have been heavily mutilated and part has been transformed into agricultural houses. This castle represents, in its present state, an interesting testimony of fortified monastic architecture of the late Middle Ages.