Château de Fourchaud

The origins of the name Fourchaud are attributed to the Latin word for "fork," as a Gallo-Roman road once split here. The first written mentions of the castle date back to 1351, when Jean Mareschal acknowledged his lands and the castle. The Mareschal family remained in possession of the complex until 1560, before being succeeded by the Hugon family in the early 17th century. They owned the Château de Fourchaud until at least 1741. In 1775, the property passed to the Marquis de Tilly. Today, the castle is owned by descendants of the House of Bourbon-Parma, distant heirs of the Roussel de Tilly family. Parts of the western curtain wall and a round tower were classified as historical monuments in 1932.

The Château de Fourchaud is located at approximately 272 m above sea level in the commune of Besson, in the Allier department, in the Auvergne region of France. It is situated not far from the RCEA and on the road from Besson to Bresnay.

The castle is currently privately owned and undergoing extensive restoration. A keep and a courtyard with remains from the 14th and 15th centuries can be explored. The original gate with a drawbridge is still preserved in the western curtain wall. The residential building features two floors, each with two rooms, above a ground floor and vaulted cellars. The complex was once surrounded by dry moats, which were filled in during the 18th century.