Château de Tournoël

The Great Keep and Extensions

The great keep, emblem of the castle's military power, dates back to the Hundred Years' War. This impressive circular tower rises 30 meters high, with a diameter of 10.45 meters and walls over 4 meters thick. Crowned by a gallery of machicolated battlements, it reinforced the castle’s defenses.

Between the square tower and the great keep, from the 15th century onwards, richly ornamented living quarters were built, bordering three sides of the large rectangular courtyard. These works were completed in the 16th century. Formerly, two additional turrets decorated these extensions, though they were perceived as an incongruous addition to the rest of the ensemble.

External Buildings and Ruins

Around the castle, several ruined buildings bear witness to the site's past grandeur:
- The Miches Tower, also known as the guard tower, shows a regular bossing that allowed deflecting enemy projectiles.
- The Great Bailhe (courtyard) served as a refuge for vassals during periods of turmoil.
- The small Bailhe housed the village peasants in times of war.
- The Sainte-Foy Chapel, now in ruins, reminds us of the religious link to this fortified place.
- The great stables preserve only an ogival lava-tuff tympanum where one can still discern a representation of Saint George slaying the dragon.

A Prestigious Property

The Tournoël castle was once the property of the counts of Auvergne, an influential family in the region. Despite centuries and the vicissitudes of history, this fortress still testifies to its strategic role and importance in the military and political landscape of medieval Auvergne.