Tounoël castle

Château de Tournoël lies to the north-east of Puy de la Bannière. The foundations of this fortress extend over 75 meters in length and 25 meters in width. The first constructions of this fortified castle date back to the 9th and 10th centuries, the era of feudalism. It was then(…)

Château de Tournoël lies to the north-east of Puy de la Bannière. The foundations of this fortress extend over 75 meters in length and 25 meters in width. The first constructions of this fortified castle date back to the 9th and 10th centuries, the era of feudalism. It was then a military fortress.
The square arkose keep, an essential defensive element, was protected by a double enclosure, with two watchtowers and battlements defending the entrance gate. The square tower was modified in the 15th century. Volvic lava was used for the restoration work. In this pre-Renaissance period, Volvic lava sculptures adorn the beautiful façade of the inner turret. Another jewel from this period is the tympanum in the chapel vestibule, depicting the Annunciation and perfectly preserved. In the corners of the vaulted ceiling of the large inner courtyard and the esplanade of the square keep, three magnificent sculptures catch the eye.

The large keep dates from the Hundred Years’ War. The circular tower is 30 meters high and 10.45 meters in diameter, with walls over 4 meters thick, and is surrounded by a gallery of machicolated battlements.
From the 15th century onwards, richly ornamented residential buildings were built between the square tower and the great keep, lining the three sides of the large rectangular courtyard. The work was completed in the 16th century. In the past, two turrets adorned this unharmonious outcrop.

Outside, a number of buildings are still more or less in ruins :
– the Tour des Miches, also known as the “Tour de la garde”, with its regular bossing to reveal the enemy’s cannonballs
– the grande Bailhe (courtyard) served as a refuge for Tournoël’s vassals in times of unrest
– the petite Bailhe (courtyard) sheltered the village’s peasants in times of war
– the Sainte-Foy chapel, now in ruins
– the large stables, of which all that remains is an ogival tympanum in Volvic lava, showing Saint-Georges slaying the dragon.

This fortified castle belonged to the Counts of Auvergne.
In 1195, Count Gui II, owner of the fortress, came into conflict with his brother Robert, bishop of Clermont, who coveted the castle. In 1210, Gui II was abandoned by his English ally for lack of funds, and plundered Mozac Abbey. Philippe-Auguste, King of France, took advantage of the situation to inflict a serious defeat on the Count. He dispossessed him of his lands. Tournoël became a royal domain until 1306.
From 1306 to 1346, Tournoël castle passed into the Maumont family thanks to an exchange with Philippe le Bel.
From 1346 to 1509, the fortress belonged to the House of La Roche.
During this period, the castle was embellished, but Tournoël was plagued by quarrels and legal proceedings. In the 16th century, Jean de Bourbon’s hatred of the de La Roche led the chatelaine, Françoise de Talaru, the young widow of Jean de la Roche, to take legal action against Antoine, her co-tutor, led by Jean d’Albon.
1509-1575 : in 1509, Françoise de Talaru’s daughter Charlotte married Jean d’Albon de Saint-André. Very much in love with his wife, he continued to embellish Tournoël (Tour des Miches, fortified entrance gate, Renaissance gate).
From 1509 to 1575, the d’Albon de Saint-André family ruled Tournoël. A great name, Marshal Jacques d’Albon Saint-André, Marshal of France, left only a very young daughter.
From 1575 to 1647, the d’Apchon family occupied Tournoël castle. The Maréchal d’Albon left no male heirs, and the château passed to his sister Marguerite, widow of the Baron d’Apchon.
1575 : Charles d’Apchon becomes owner of the château.
1579 : Charles d’Apchon marries Lucrèce de Gadagne
1590 : Charles is wounded by the Ligueurs and dies at Tournoël.
1594 : During a truce, the Ligueurs take Tournoël by surprise.
1595 : the château is taken over by royal troops ; the estate is sold to Palamède de Boulhon, then bought back by Lucrèce de Gadagne.
1632 : the château is abandoned by the d’Apchon family
1647 : Guillaume d’Apchon’s widow emptied Tournoël of all its furnishings ; she bequeathed the castle walls to her youngest daughter Gabrielle, who married Charles de Montvallat.

From 1647 to 1734, the Montvallats owned the château, but had to contend with debts, scandals, confiscations of property, restrictions on rights and more.
1692 : death of Charles de Montvallat, his eldest son inherits Tournoël, but renounces the estate. Nevertheless, the youngest son, Pierre, kept Tournoël and at the same time inherited the Bosredons’ hatred of Volvic.
1724 : assassination of Pierre de Montvallat

1734 to 1766 : de Montvallat’s youngest daughter married Claude Joseph de Naucase in 1734. The de Naucase family inherited the château. The Naucase family leaves Tournoël in the care of an uncle, Jean de Montvallat, who entrusts it to farmers as a country estate.
1766 : sale of the château by one of the Naucase damsels to Guillaume Chabrol, Seigneur de Chaméane, around “Commentaires et coutumes d’Auvergne”.

1766 – 2000 : Guillaume Chabrol is ennobled by Louis XV in 1767. From that day on, Tournoël has belonged to the prestigious Chabrol de Tournoël family, which included many illustrious men.

In 2000, Tournoël was sold by the Chabrol heirs to Mr. Aguttes, who has since undertaken an exceptional restoration of the château in keeping with its original architecture.

Research and writing : Association Volvic Histoire et Patrimoine