ムーランの洞窟・トップ8

The name Fourchaud seems to come from “Fourche”, as the Gallo-Roman road branched off there, coming from Bourges and leading either to Lyon or Clermont-Ferrand.

Built in the 13th century on a rock overlooking the town of Bourbon-l'Archambault, this castle controlled the ancient roads. It was the first castle of the Bourbon dynasty. It will remain a "symbolic building" of the family's power.

The keep of the former Bourbon palace is still standing today. Next to it, however, is the beautiful Anne de Beaujeu Pavilion, built at the end of the 15th century (1497 to 1503). It was built for Duchess Anne de Beuajeu (1461 - 1522, also Anne de France), daughter of King Louis XI - and was the first building in France to be designed in the style of the Italian Renaissance.

Pleasant and rolling rural path, through fields, then bordering a beautiful pond before arriving at the Chateau de Beaulon.

The name Fourchaud seems to come from “Fourche”, since this is where the Gallo-Roman road which came from Bourges and went either to Lyon or to Clermont-Ferrand separated.

Duke Louis II of Bourbon decided in 1378 to install the ducal court of accounts in Moulins, making the city the capital of the Duchy of Bourbon; it will remain so until 1532, the date of the duchy's attachment to the Crown. After the devastation at the start of the Hundred Years' War, Duke Louis II had the Château de Moulins rebuilt between 1366 and 1375. King Charles VIII wanted to assert his rights over the Kingdom of Naples and began the First Italian War, between 1497 and 1499. During this time, Charles VIII entrusted his sister, Anne de Beaujeu and her husband Pierre II de Bourbon with the regency of the kingdom which will be exercised from Moulins. The French discovered Italian Renaissance art during this war. Following this discovery, around 1500, Anne de Beaujeu and Pierre II de Bourbon had the architect Marceau Rodier build one of the first buildings of Renaissance architecture in France to close the courtyard of the castle. The presence of Pierre de Beaujeu's monogram on the pavilion suggests that it was completed before his death in 1503. After the duchy was attached to the Crown, the castle was only occupied sporadically and was poorly maintained. In 1755, a fire ravaged the wing of Anne de Beaujeu's pavilion. In 1774, the state of the castle had it classified as a ruin. In 1839, the Anne-de-Beaujeu pavilion became a gendarmerie. It was saved by its classification as a historic monument in 1840. The entire pavilion was restored, completed with annex buildings, in 1907, to house a museum following the donation from Louis Mantin. The Anne-de-Beaujeu pavilion has housed the Moulins art and archeology museum since 1910, with the Mantin house.

Free visit to the exteriors all year round. Beautiful ensemble consisting of a quadrangular main building (17th century) flanked by square turrets topped with imperial roofs cushioned by slate lanterns. Set also composed of the chapel (1720), the dovecote, the granary with an inverted boat hull frame (dated 1617), the Reserve house with its half-timbering (15th century). A French terraced garden (1840) decorates the premises. Since 1696, the property has been in the same family.

Fourchaud Castle is located in the town of Besson. Its construction dates back to the 19th century. The construction was done on the ruins of the keep which dates from the 14th century.