Ternes Castle

Ternes Castle, locally known as Château des Ternes, lies in the village of Les Ternes, in the Cantal department in France.

The first castle with this name dated back to the 11th or 12th century. During the Hundred Years' War it was reduced to ruins by English troops, who occupied Alleuze Castle and ravaged the area.

After the war had ended and peace returned to the area, in the 16th century, the present castle was built by the Espinchal family. It maybe incorporated parts of its ruined predecessor. The castle was built as a rectangular keep with a round tower on its southwest corner and a round stair tower somewhat in the center of the other side.

The Espinchal family sold Ternes around 1736 to the Rouillon de Spy family, who then started to call themselves Spy des Ternes. During the French Revolution, at the end of the 18th century the 2 towers of the castle were lowered and given flat, sloping roofs. In 1836 the castle was donated to the Diocese of Saint-Flour and turned into a school for rural schoolmasters.

In 1909 it was finally acquired by Alfred Douët. He then restored Ternes Castle to its present appearance. Also the second corner tower was built to give the castle a more esthetically pleasing appearance.

At present Ternes Castle can be visited for a fee. Sadly enough it was closed when I came by. A very nice castle.

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