Château de Chalmazel

Construction of the fortress began in 1231 under Guy IV du Forez, who ensured the financing, while Arnaud de Marcilly directed the construction work. Initially designed as a fortified house, the complex quickly developed into a medieval fortress to counteract the ambitions of the neighbors of Couzan. After the death of Antoine de Marcilly in 1371, the castle passed to his sister Béatrix, who was married to Mathieu de Talaru. The Talaru family, an old noble lineage from the Lyonnais, thus took over the lordship. Around 1400, they reinforced the complex with a pentagonal enceinte and added machicolations to the keep. During the Renaissance, after the Italian Wars, the Marquis de Talaru enriched the castle with an openwork facade, galleries in the inner courtyard, chapel paintings, and sculptures.