Château de Montvallat

English translation

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History

Fortified house of the 14th century, rebuilt in the 16th century, attacked during the Wars of Religion and burned in 1610. Montvallat was largely rebuilt and fortified from 1612 onwards by François II, count of Montvallat. The castle forms a quadrilateral, characterized by the structure of its walls (large granite blocks and facing of Volvic lava). A wall-walk with machicolations established above the façades joins two turrets covered with pepperpot roofs. The principal dwelling block, to the south, serves as a residence, the other parts as rural outbuildings. In the first half of the 17th century (around 1630), an Italianate painted decoration on panels was created, inspired by contemporary engravings, of astonishing finesse for such an austere dwelling: decorations of flowers, foliage and fruits, mythological scenes, small landscapes...