The castle of (or) Chaussins is located in the commune of Abrest, in the department of Allier, a few kilometers south of Vichy.
Even if it is likely that a feudal fortress had been built there after the Year 1000, it was in 1438 that Lord Henri de Chossaing obtained authorization to build a new castle on his lands, in southeast of the current town.
However, it will be remodeled from the 16th century and after the Revolution, initially shared between seven co-owners, the building will then be the subject of a number of transactions. Rearrangements will also be carried out in the 19th century.
Today, the castle is made up of several buildings forming a courtyard. This is open to the east where a bridge spans the water ditches. It is flanked by towers and always surrounded by a moat.
The first L-shaped main building from the 14th century is extended by a keep which has the particularity of having a circular shape on the outside but hexagonal on the inside. The other buildings are from the 16th century. Most of the bays were enlarged in the 18th century and the battlements of the tower, to the southwest, were made in the 19th century, a time when people liked to revisit the styles of yesteryear...
The military aspect of the castle having over time gave way to more residential developments, note that if a ribbed vaulted room retains a medieval fireplace, on the upper floors, Gothic and Renaissance fireplaces and decorations have been preserved. Furthermore, in the west wing, a trompe-l'oeil mural has also been preserved.
Today, property is still private. Listed in the Inventory, the castle which has regained its proud appearance is not open to the public. Its elegant silhouette can, however, mark a walk in a bucolic setting. Information on +33 4 70 34 16 39.
