Castle of Pionsat
Pionsat

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Guided tour. Exhibitions: micro-madness (virtual museum), photography and crafts. Concerts. This double stately residence, of major architectural interest in Auvergne, is made up of two imposing main buildings of medieval and Renaissance type.

Each main building is classified as a Historic Monument (Renaissance wing since 1920) and in the additional inventory of Historic Monuments (medieval wing since 1962).
Pionsat Castle is unique in Auvergne because it bears witness to two different and ancient architectural styles: medieval and Renaissance.
On this land a treasure was found consisting of the first Arvernian coins, staters mostly in gold, bearing the name of Vercingetorix. It was probably Humbert de Beaujeu, constable of France, who had the first defensive keep built in the 12th century to establish his power. Bernard de Ventadour subsequently inherited the lands of Pionsat and Montel-de-Gelat before selling them to Guillaume Aubert (rich financier) around 1345. On the border of the English (present-day Aquitaine) and French Kingdoms, Pionsat and Les Combrailles are at the heart of tensions in the midst of the Hundred Years' War. The context therefore imposed on the Auberts the construction of a stone castle, protective for the population and capable of defending the surrounding territory in the face of multiple threats.
In 1482, Gilbert Motier IV de La Fayette (distant relative of the Auberts) sold the castle of Pionsat to Jacques II de Chazeron. This is the golden age of the Chazeron family, whose descendants will be in the hotel of several kings of France until Henri IV.
The positions held by the members of the family with the kings of France brought them significant income which enabled them to transform the medieval castle, to begin the construction of a castle in a new style at the time, that of the Renaissance.
Few Renaissance castles were built in Auvergne, many were transformed.
At Pionsat, a new ensemble was created in large proportions and, for the Renaissance part, an original style of decor: "the vermiculated bossage" for which Pionsat holds the "exclusivity" for Auvergne and perhaps beyond. We then observe mullions, pediments….
In 1604, the property entered the De Chabanne family until the Revolution.
Shared and sold in the 19th century, it is only since the end of the 20th century that the buildings have benefited from renovation and protection work.
The commune of Pionsat, current owner of the Renaissance part, is continuing studies and investments for the preservation and cultural and tourist enhancement of this castle, a great witness to the audacity of the men of Combrailles, an architectural jewel of Auvergne.
Partner of the Historic Route of the Châteaux d'Auvergne.

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