En un regard
Le château en bref
The entrance tower of the château of Craponne-sur-Arzon, improperly called "le Donjon", is a tall square tower pierced by two doorways and a few windows or arrow slits. Built in the 12th century and probably completed in the early 13th century, it is the sole surviving remnant of the neighbouring castle, which was demolished in 1576. Its original crowning has disappeared, but holes in the masonry suggest that a timber hoarding once rested on removable corbels. The tower later served as a passage between the town, the church and its cemetery, sometimes functioned as a prison, and received a clock with dials and a bell in the 17th century. Listed as a monument historique in 1949 and owned by the commune, it forms part of the historic town centre, which is freely open to visitors.