Château de Polignac

Polignac

Perched on an isolated basalt outcrop on the outskirts of Le Puy-en-Velay, the château de Polignac was the seat of one of the most powerful viscountly families of Auvergne, mentioned from the late 9th century and cited in a deed of around 929-935 under the name "castrum quod vocatur Podianacus". The present fortress, dominated by an imposing square keep raised between 1385 and 1421 by Randon Armand X, guarded a single approach by a spiralling path, once locked by six fortified gates, the fourth of which, from the 13th century, still keeps the grooves of its portcullis. Local tradition links the site to an ancient temple of Apollo: a fountain mask kept in the lower hall of the keep, known as the "mask of Apollo", is said to have fed the legend of an oracle consulted before the château was built. In 1536, François I is said to have stayed here and to have nicknamed the Polignacs "kings of the mountains". Abandoned by the viscounts in the 17th century, the château fell into ruin before being listed as a monument historique (historic monument) by Prosper Mérimée in 1840, then restored by the second Duke of Polignac between 1830 and 1897. In the 19th century, the archaeologist Auguste Aymard had the medieval well known as "l'Abîme" (the Abyss) sounded: it is 83.50 metres deep. Since 2012, an association has kept this fortress open to the public.

Getting there : Open to visitors in season (April-October), 5 km north-west of Le Puy-en-Velay; car park at the foot of the village, then a climb on foot up the spiral path to the fortified entrance.

Opening times and access details are given as a guide only: check before you set out.

Ambient sound