Château de la Baume

En un regard

Le château en bref

The Château de la Baume (sometimes spelled Beaume) is located in the commune of Le Veurdre, in the Allier department, on the banks of the Allier river. The site has been occupied since the Middle Ages: an earlier fortified house (maison forte), of which a tower dated to the 15th century survives, is said to have been destroyed by fire in the 13th century before being rebuilt in the former outer bailey (basse-cour). The lordship belonged to the Blanc (or Perrin-Blanc) family from the 14th century until around 1570. The building suffered further destruction during the Wars of Religion, in 1576 and again in 1589. It then passed through several hands, notably Charles and then Jacques d'Aubrun at the beginning of the 17th century. At the end of the 18th century the estate was acquired by Marie-Thérèse Alarose, wife of Jean-Baptiste de La Quassière; their son François Dorothée had the château rebuilt and attempted to set up a beet sugar factory there between 1839 and 1845. The interior decoration of several salons, including a Chinese salon, dates largely from 1876. The present building, rectangular in plan, is surrounded by a park planted with trees three centuries old. The Château de la Baume has been listed (inscrit) as a historic monument since 1991. As a private property, it is open to visitors during the summer season.