Cornillon Castle

Cornillon Castle, locally known as Château de Cornillon, lies in the village of Saint-Paul-en-Cornillon in the Loire department in France.

The exact date when the castle was first built is unknown, but it is believed that there was already a fortification at this site in the 11th century. The earliest written record of the castle dates to the 12th century and shows that it belonged to the Lavieu family.

Over time, it passed through a long succession of noble families, including the Beaudiner, Poitiers, Crussol, Layre, Lévis-Ventadour, Fay, and Nérestang families. The Layre family carried out significant rebuilding and strengthening efforts toward the end of the 14th century during the Hundred Years’ War (1337-1453). Most of the surviving castle dates from the 15th and 16th centuries.

The castle continued to be altered in the early modern period. Although it was not always well maintained in the first half of the 17th century, later owners restored it repeatedly up to the French Revolution at the end of the 18th century.

Perched on a granite spur high above the Grangent reservoir, where the Loire River once flowed wildly, it dominates the landscape. Built directly on the rock, its layout follows the shape of the spur.

Currently, Cornillon Castle is privately owned and not accessible to the public. It looks great.

Gallery