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Base Mérimée: Monuments historiques · France

Ruines du château

Hérisson, Allier, France

The record

Designation
Historic monument, classified (classé)
Protection
classé MH
Extent of protection
Les ruines (cad. AZ 50) : classement par arrêté du 16 décembre 1986
Protection dates
1986/12/16 : classé MH
Type
château
Main period of construction
14e siècle
Ownership
propriété de la commune
Commune
Hérisson
Département
Allier
Region
Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
Country
France
Coordinates
46.50887, 2.71233
Mérimée reference
PA00093114

Slide toward Today to fade the historical sheet and see the modern map underneath.

David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries

5 historical maps cover this location, the earliest the 1632 map "Carte du Pais de Bourbonois." (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries).

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This record on the Ministère de la Culture's POP platform ↗

The Ministère de la Culture's notice

Site sans doute fortifié dès l'invasion wisigothique. En 989, construction d'un premier château, terminé au 11e siècle. Cet édifice comportait un donjon carré et un second plus petit. Au 14e siècle, le château actuel remplace le premier, avec augmentation des défenses par la création de fortifications. Au 16e siècle, Anne de France, fille du roi Henri II, y habite. Après la Fronde, le château est voué à la destruction et sert de carrière de pierre aux habitants. Ce château appartenait à un ensemble de châtellenies possédées par les Bourbon. Une première ligne défensive englobait l'agglomération, composée de murs et d'une trentaine de tours, percée de trois portes. Une seconde ligne de fortifications protégeait l'entrée du château au sud. Le château se composait de sept tours rondes et d'un donjon à base carrée, le tout relié par de hautes courtines. Construction en grès à dominante rose.

English translation

The text above is the record as published by the Ministère de la Culture, in French. The English below is a machine translation made by TreeAlive, not by the Ministère de la Culture; it has not been checked by a person. Where the two differ, the original is the record. Report a translation error: privacy@treealive.com

Site probably fortified from the time of the Visigothic invasion. In 989, construction of a first château, completed in the 11th century. This building comprised a square keep and a smaller second one. In the 14th century, the present château replaced the first, with increased defences through the creation of fortifications. In the 16th century, Anne of France, daughter of king Henri II, lived there. After the Fronde, the château was destined for destruction and served as a stone quarry for the inhabitants. This château belonged to a group of castellanies owned by the Bourbon. A first defensive line encompassed the built-up area, composed of walls and some thirty towers, pierced by three gates. A second line of fortifications protected the entrance to the château to the south. The château was composed of seven round towers and a keep with a square base, the whole connected by high curtain walls. Construction in sandstone with a predominant pink tone.

Nearby in the register

Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.

Base Mérimée, Ministère de la Culture, data last updated 2026-09-17, reused under the Licence Ouverte / Open Licence 2.0 (Etalab). Record text is reproduced unchanged. Ministère de la Culture · Licence Ouverte 2.0
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