En un regard
Le château en bref
The Château de la Crête is located in the commune of Audes, in the Allier department, about 3 km west of the village, on a rocky spur isolated by erosion. The site is mentioned as early as 1128 through the presence of a chaplain, and then in 1245 as the property of the lords of Culan. The old castle, whose remains survive as ruins, shows two building campaigns: round towers pierced with arrow slits dating from the 13th century, followed by a larger main residential building (corps de logis) flanked by square towers with gunports, built in the 14th and 15th centuries during the Hundred Years' War. It remained inhabited until the French Revolution and then fell into ruin. Between 1895 and 1905, a new Neo-Gothic château was built in the lower court (basse-cour) of the former fortress, featuring towers, turrets and a dovecote with mullioned windows. In the 16th and 17th centuries, the estate belonged to the Luylier de la Souchère family; François de Beaucaire de Péguillon, Bishop of Metz, was born and died there. The whole site, comprising the old castle with its defensive system and its bridge, as well as the new château with its gateway, chapel and outbuildings, has been registered (inscrit) as a historic monument since 28 December 2006. The château, which is private property, is now used as a venue for weddings and seminars.
