En un regard
Le château en bref
The Château de la Cour-en-Chapeau is located in the commune of Chapeau, in the Allier department. The fief was acquired in 1462 by Hugues de Buyat, who had the château built on two neighbouring mottes, formerly separated by figure-of-eight-shaped moats. The present building, constructed mainly in the late 15th and the 16th century (some works are dated 1595), consists of two perpendicular main wings set within a quadrilateral plan flanked by four round corner towers. The entrance courtyard, to the north-west, is lined with outbuildings that are also flanked by round towers, while a French formal garden extends to the south-east. The façades display a characteristic two-tone decoration of black bricks laid in diamond patterns against a background of red bricks, enhanced with chevron motifs. The façades and roofs of the château, including the postern and the outbuildings, have been listed (classé) as historic monuments since 4 October 1972. The château, its church and its park have also formed a protected site (site classé) since 24 December 1974. The château remains private property.
