The castle of Ravel dates back to 1147 and its
first occupant was Pierre de RaveL It became a Royal residence under Philippe
III le Hardi and Philippe le Bel. It was later inherited by the Chauvigny d'Amboise,
de la Rochefoucault, Combourcier du
Terrail and the d'Estaing families. It
was bought in 1806 by Charles de Riberolles de Beaucène, and the same family
has owned
the castle to this day. This powerful fortress from the Middle Ages
with its thirteenth century donjon and its five towers, one of
which is octogonal
was embellished at the end of the eighteenth century by the Admiral d'Estaing
who has left several nautical souvenirs.
Part
of the seventeenth century stables and the entire " Etats Généraux
" gallery in which can be seen a thirteenth century heraldic frieze has been
opened to the public since july the 1st 1996.The
castle is fully furnished and entirely preserved with an impressive terrace designed
by Le Nôtre which overlooks the
Limagne plains, the "Chaîne
des Dômes" and the "Mont-Dore" mountain-ranges.
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