Built in Carladez, in the early XIth
century, on a promontory looking down upon the Goul Valley, in the borders of
Haute Auvergne and of Rouergue, Messilhac, thanks to the embellishing made to
its main part at the beginning of the XVIth century by its lord Jean de Montamat,
is today the only undamaged vestige of the French Renaissance in the Cantal, with
its carved façade and its stone stairs " à l'italienne ".
The castle
which was in the second half of the XVIth century the seat of the Governor of
Haute Auvergne, Captain Capt de Rastinhac, the King's Attorney in this country,
played an important part in the local history, particularly during the Hundred
Years War and during the French " Guerres de Religions ".
Made of two dungeons, of a main part and of an aisle dated of the end of XVIIIth
century, Messilhac presents from its terrace and from the height of its towers
a magnificent panorama upon the Goul Valley.
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