Alleuze Castle

Alleuze Castle - Château d'Alleuze, Alleuze, Cantal, Auvergne Rhone Alps, French Republic.

Château d’Alleuze is an ancient 14th-century fortress, with origins dating back to the 12th century. It is located in the commune of Alleuze, in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region.
The site is situated in the French department of Cantal, on a promontory overlooking the river—also called the Alleuze—which now forms part of a reservoir.
Today, the structure lies in ruins. Nearby stands the Chapel of Saint-Illide, which was rebuilt in the 15th century.
The citadel was originally owned by the bishops of Auvergne. It features a square layout with an inner courtyard and round corner towers—a design characteristic of the architecture of that era.
During the Hundred Years' War, the castle was seized by the English under the command of Bernard de Garlan. For the next seven years, the invaders plundered and devastated the surrounding area. Ultimately, in 1405, the local townspeople burned the castle down to put an end to the looting.
The fortress was later restored, and its towers were repurposed as a prison by the bishops of Clermont.
In 1575, Alleuze was captured by the Huguenots.
In 1927, the French Ministry of Culture designated Château d’Alleuze a historical monument; however, it remains in a dilapidated state to this day.