En un regard
Le château en bref
The Château de Fourchaud is located in the commune of Besson (Allier). The fortress is first mentioned in 1351, and its construction spans mainly the 14th to the 16th century. The quadrangular enclosure, of which a crenellated curtain wall and two round corner towers survive, was formerly surrounded by dry moats, probably filled in during the 18th century, and by water-filled moats; the original gateway, defended by a drawbridge, is still visible in the west curtain wall. The rectangular keep, with its steep roof, retains traces of former machicolations; the residence comprises two storeys of two rooms each, a ground floor and vaulted cellars. About a hundred metres to the east stands the Petit Fourchaud, a second, square keep of three levels, provided with two loggias. The estate belonged successively to Jean Mareschal (1351), to his widow Péronnelle de Cieux (1470), to Claude Mareschal (1560), then, at the beginning of the 17th century, to the Hugon family, before passing in 1775 to the Marquis de Tilly; it is now held by descendants of the House of Bourbon-Parma. The west curtain wall and one round tower have been classified as historic monuments since 30 May 1932 (initial listing of 30 May 1928; Mérimée reference PA00092997), and the garden is recorded in the supplementary inventory (reference IA03000186). Still privately owned, the château is considered one of the best-preserved feudal fortresses of the Bourbonnais.
