Château d'Essalois

The origins of Château d'Essalois are obscure, but the strategically favorable hill was already settled in Gallic times. An oppidum of the Segusiavi existed here from 170 BC to 25 BC, the remains of which can still be found today. The first written mentions of the castle date back to the 14th century, with Arthaud de Villedieu paying homage to the Count of Forez in 1378 for a house and a tower in Essalois. The current appearance of the castle largely dates back to 1580, when Léonard de Bertrand, Lord of Essalois, oversaw its construction. Ten years later, the castle was plundered by troops of the Catholic League. In the 17th century, the lordship of Essalois changed hands several times before being sold in 1671 to the Camaldolese monks of Val Jésus.