Rochefort Castle

Rochefort Castle, locally known as Château de Rochefort, lies east of the village of the same name, in the Allier department in France.

The first fortification at this site was built at the end of the 11th century. However, the present castle was founded by the Lords of Bourbon in 1150 to protect the southern border of their lands against the historical Auvergne region. It was built on a terrace, slightly lower than the village, overlooking the valley of the Sioule.

At the end of the 12th century it went to Guy II of Dampierre through marriage. His descendants then completed the castle during the first half of the 13th century and retained ownership during the next centuries. In the 2nd half of the 14th century the castle was owned by Jean, a bastard son of Louis I the Duke of Bourbon.

In 1623 Rochefort Castle was bought by Pierre Chartier de Rouvignac who gave it as a dowry to his daughter Jeanne, when she married Jean, Viscount of Ligondès and Lord of La Chapelaude, in 1632. Jean then had the castle restored. It was modified by his descendants in the 18th and 19th century. Today the castle is still owned by the Ligondès family.

At present Rochefort Castle is a private residence, so it can not be visited but its exterior can freely be visited. A beautiful castle.

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