En un regard
Le château en bref
Château de Rilhat is located in the commune of Cognat-Lyonne, in the Allier department, about 5 km west of Vichy. Built from the 15th century onwards, it underwent building campaigns in the second half of the 16th century and the first half of the 17th century. The building consists of a rectangular main residential block (corps de logis) flanked by two round towers on its south façade, while a square tower, the only surviving defensive element on the north façade, stands in front of the building; another tower, which collapsed in the early 20th century, has left ruins, and a third was converted into a dovecote. The interior retains a Renaissance painted ceiling in the great hall on the first floor, painted panelling and a painted stone fireplace, as well as a ship's-hull (carène) roof frame in the attic. In January 1568 the estate was the scene of the Battle of Cognat, an episode of the Wars of Religion that saw the destruction of the village of Cognat and of the neighbouring Château de Hautefeuille. Having passed through the de Reclesne de Lyonne and then the de Villardi de Montlaur families (1844–1901), the château subsequently belonged to M. Grange de Vensat and then, from 1920, to the Soucachet family. The château, including the painted ceiling of the great hall, the adjoining room in the tower, the dovecote tower and the well, has been listed as a historic monument (inscrit) since 26 November 1990. It remains private property.
