Murol Castle

Murol Castle, locally known as Château de Murol, lies above the village of the same name, in the Puy-de-Dôme department in France.

Murol Castle was founded in the 12th century, on an outcrop of basaltic rock. Its primary purpose was to command 3 important regional roads. In the 1390s the castle was strengthened by Guillaume de Sam a.k.a. Guillaume II de Murol; he finished the interior fortress, built the keep, a second vault and the eastern buildings.

Murol Castle passed to the Estaing family in the 15th century when Gaspard d'Estaing married Jehanne de Murol. In the 2nd half of the 16th century Murol was besieged unsuccessfully several times by troops from the Catholic League. After peace returned, Jean d'Estaing transformed the castle by building a comfortable Renaissance pavilion at the foot of the inner castle. Later François I d'Estaing started to build a vast bastioned wall that surrounded the castle as well as the Renaissance pavilion with a large hanging garden, but the work remained unfinished.

In the 17th century the castle was spared from the disarmament policy of Cardinal Richelieu because the Estaing family was favored at the French court. But still the castle lost its residential function and partly fell to ruin.

During the French Revolution, at the end of the 18th century, it was used as a prison. In the 19th century it turned into a robber's den and finally a stone quarry. It was declared a Historical Monument in 1889 after which it was donated to the government. At present it is owned by the local council.

Murol Castle can be visited for a fee. A great castle in a beautiful location. Recommended. 

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