En un regard
Le château en bref
A few kilometres south of Clermont-Ferrand, in the commune of Chanonat, the Château de la Bâtisse illustrates the transformation of an Auvergnat fortified house into a pleasure residence. It all began in the 13th century with a simple watchtower; in the following century, three more towers were added to complete the defensive arrangement. In 1622, on Richelieu's orders, the stronghold was partly dismantled, as were many other fortresses of the kingdom.
The château then entered a new life: its towers received dome-shaped crowns around 1633, and the whole was subsequently remodelled into a residence of leisure around 1693; a bell tower was added in the 19th century.
La Bâtisse is above all renowned for its park: nine hectares of French-style gardens, awarded the "Jardin remarquable" label, which count among the largest in the Puy-de-Dôme. Owned by Jean-Yves Berthon since 2021, the estate is open to visitors and hosts receptions and seminars.