Château de Douzon

En un regard

Le château en bref

Château de Douzon, in Étroussat (Allier), consists of the remains of an early château of the 14th–16th centuries – of which a square keep with a watch turret (guette) and a round tower survive, characteristic of Bourbonnais military architecture – and a main building (corps de logis) of the 18th century. After a fire in 1723, François du Buysson (1704–1769) had the building reconstructed to plans by the architect Clément: the new rectangular residence has two storeys and a straight-pitched roof pierced by bull's-eye windows (œils-de-bœuf), completed by two return wings with a ground floor and a Mansart-style attic. Three rooms preserve unfinished 18th-century decoration. The estate was successively owned by the families d'Avenières, Châteauneuf, Rochedragon, Chaussecourte, Audier, Arfeuilles and du Buysson; since 1776, it has belonged to the descendants of the Loisel de Douzon family. Philibert du Buysson de Douzon, son of the builder, was guillotined on 11 Nivôse Year II (31 December 1793). Listed as a historic monument (classé) by order of 18 June 1973 (Mérimée reference PA00093100), the château, still privately owned, opens its exteriors to free visits during the summer season.