Entering this medieval fortress is like travelling centuries back in time to when the Kingdom of France was not yet unified. Mauzun, “the Giant of Auvergne”, is listed for sale with BARNES Propriétés & Châteaux. A private viewing unlike any other...
It could just be the Holy Grail for those in search of an atypical property. And what a Grail it is! Mauzun castle (Puy-de-Dôme) is possibly the world’s most spectacular grouping of medieval fortifications still privately owned. The goal is not to restore this fortress, not to reconstruct it, but rather to understand it. Just ask Arthur Chalufour of BARNES Propriétés & Châteaux about the shock wave he felt when he first stepped within its walls: “Mauzun is both a major historic site and a legendary stronghold. It is unquestionably the Giant of Auvergne. It’s impossible not to be stunned by its grandeur”. Listed as a Historic Monument (we would have been astonished if it wasn't), this 13th century fortress has been partially consolidated by its current owners. The history buff within us all can but marvel.
The jagged walls attest to tens of centuries of history, just over 12 miles from Clermont-Ferrand. Mauzun was once home to a Gallic oppidum and later a Roman castellum before being promoted to the rank of stronghold. When Philippe Auguste invaded Auvergne in 1210, he decided to make an impression by constructing a vast fortress as a symbol of royal power. The site remained a coveted prize for four centuries, because as the saying went: “Whoever held Mauzun commanded Auvergne”.
Once the kingdom was unified, Mauzun no longer served a purpose. In 1732, Bishop Jean-Baptiste Massillon obtained the king’s permission to have it demolished. But the question was, how to go about destroying such a titan? For want of a solution, the castle was used as a prison. With the outbreak of the French Revolution, the fortress was acquired by a group of eleven citizens, tasked with its demolition (again!). Dispirited by the magnitude of the challenge, they settled for removing the most precious stones and gave its slopes over to grazing and farming. In the 19th and 20th centuries, the site was more or less left alone, until the ruins were classed as a Historic Monument in 1970. A conservation association was subsequently formed, but was dissolved in 1998. In 2001, the fortress of Mauzun was acquired by its current owners, who have spent the last 20 years consolidating and stabilising it as well as making it accessible to the public.
Exclusively listed for sale by BARNES Propriétés & Châteaux at €800,000, this fortress built between 1230 and 1240 is truly one of a kind. It goes without saying that its buyer has to have a certain enthusiasm for History, but how could anyone not be bowled over by the majestic ramparts that afford views stretching for over 30 miles? “The Capitainerie Tower has been structurally restored to convert it into an 860 sq ft dwelling”, says Arthur Chalufour. “A little extra work is needed to make it habitable, as the water, electricity and sanitation facilities have yet to be installed”. The ultimate command post for a writer in search of solitude? Or perhaps the most original home office? A viable option thanks to the village and its shops below the castle. Do you have what it takes?
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Contact :
BARNES Propriétés & Châteaux – 122, rue du Faubourg-Saint-Honoré, 75008 Paris – FRANCE
Arthur Chalufour - tél. : +33 (0)6 64 75 34 16 / Barnes-proprietes-chateaux.com
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