Castles to visit Rhônes-Alpes

Urfé Castle, known as Urfé's Horns, was born of the rivalry of two great feudal women who fought the roannais territory in the th century. To get to the Count of Forez, and to resist him, the sire of Beaujeu installs a post of surveillance above Champoly, facing the fortifications of the Count in Saint-Just-en-Bridge, Cervière, Crozet and Roanne. A modest beginning, around 1130 a large isolated tower at the top of a rock is erected. The burden of maintaining this strategic position was entrusted to the Raybe family, who cleverly knew how to take advantage of it, taking a long balance between the two overlords, until the day when, in 1234, she made a final bid to Count de Forez. Two centuries later was built the castle we know. Guichard of Urfé, seneschal from Quercy, chamberlain of the Duke of Orleans, was probably the director, before being murdered. The family was continued with the descendants of Arnoul, brother of the deceased. The fortress was built in Renaissance style by Anne d'Urfé, the brother of L'Astrée. Anne lived as a provincial chief of the League until 1618. Last consolidated in 1704, the heavy building resisted the storms until the Revolution. She then belonged to Durand-Antoine de Meaux, guillotiné in Feurs in 1793. His heirs will regain their property and their current descendants still possess them, but the fortress will never be restored.

The castle of La Chèze was built in the 13th century and located in such a way as to dominate the town of Cheylard and its surroundings. It has been constantly modified since the end of the Middle Ages until the Renaissance. It became the property of the Tournon de la Chèze until the middle of the 16th century, when the Tersacs took possession of it. It survived the wars of religion and revolts. It was heavily damaged by fire at the end of the Second World War. It was left in ruins until 1989, when an association was created to restore the castle.