Château-Mairie de Pont-du-Château

At Pont-du-Château, the former feudal château was partly burned down in 1580 during a plague epidemic. A new château was rebuilt in the 17th century for Guillaume de Montboissier-Beaufort-Canillac (1600-1664), Lieutenant General of the army, Maréchal de Camp, Seneschal of Auvergne and Counsellor of State. Then the château was revamped in the 18th century by Philippe-Claude de Montboissier-Beaufort-Canillac (1715-1797), who added two right-angled wings, one of them for the stables. He built a park in the north of the city. At the time of the French Revolution, all of this property was seized and the municipality acquired the château and the chapel, destroyed in 1960.

The main façade covers a pre-existing building. The central portion draws attention by the horseshoe staircase, made from Volvic stone, probably inspired by the staircase at the Château de Fontainebleau. This Italianate portion is enhanced by roof balustrades reminiscent of Versailles. The rear façade is from the 17thcentury. Its terrace offers an unobstructed view of the river Allier and the surrounding countryside.

The original interior décor has been preserved. In the coat of arms room, the French-style ceiling painted in the 17th century retraces the family tree of the Montboissier-Beaufort-Canillac family in the form of 87 coats of arms, among which we recognise those of the two Popes from the family: Clement VI and Gregory XI. The parlour, today the marriage hall, was decorated in the 1760s in neo-classical style with wood joinery, overdoors representing the four seasons, marble fireplace and Versailles parquet floor.

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