Château de Durianne

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

History

In the Middle Ages, the seigneury of Durianne was considered by the Polignac as a guard over the Loire. The castle had a great number of owners during its history: Gachet (12th century), Chabade (14th-15th century) Nogaret (16th century), Dorlhac (16th-17th century), de Colomb (17th century), Jerphanion then Chabrier (18th century), Reboul de Fonfreyde (end of century). From 1836 onwards and to the present day, it has belonged to the family Balme du Garay. Nothing is known of the castle in the medieval period, but the present building appears to have been rebuilt at the end of the 15th century. It must have been subject to work of alteration in the 18th century (windows, fireplaces..). In the 1920s, another campaign of works was undertaken (crowning of the square tower, paintings in the kitchen...).

Description

Of modest dimensions, the fortified house consists of a rectangular main dwelling flanked by towers. Access is from the north by a courtyard; the rear south facade overlooks a garden. A small lower building is attached to the east. The dwelling is built of small rubble stone with dressings in Blavosy sandstone. The low-pitched roof is covered with round tiles. The facades are pierced by large openings with monolithic lintels (18th century) furnished with small-paned joinery and solid shutters. A round tower flanks the south-west corner. On the south facade rises a circular stair tower, its openings having Gothic dressings with prismatic bases. On the north facade stands a square tower covered with a terrace protected by a parapet and false machicolations.