Château de La Chaise (Château du Riau)

En un regard

Le château en bref

The Château de La Chaise, formerly known as the Château du Riau, is located in the commune of Monétay-sur-Allier, alongside the old Roman road linking Bourges to Clermont, above the Allier valley. The estate, recorded as early as 1473 as the property of Claude Popillon, treasurer (argentier) to Duke John II of Bourbon, then comprised a residence, a chapel and a wine-making building. It passed in 1592 to the du Buisson family, then in 1665 to the Roy family, whose name would give the estate its present name of "La Chaise". Around 1750, two towers were demolished by royal ordinance to make navigation on the Allier easier. The south façade was restored in 1853 and the chapel enlarged with a new bell tower; two entrance towers were built in 1857, while a north building was demolished in 1859 to open up the courtyard. In 1903, two west pavilions were added under the direction of the architect Moreau. The estate, historically linked to the Saint-Pourçain wine trade thanks to a port on the Allier, still belongs to the founding family and today offers guest rooms and reception halls.