Any new data on the medieval walls of Vichy?
The medieval structure of the city of Vichy is still largely unknown. A population gathered under the authority of a lord «de Vichy», in the middle of the thirteenth century, on the rock called «des Célestins». In the middle of the 14th century, Vichy, until then Auvergne, gradually became a Bourbonnais possession, thanks to numerous purchases and exchanges of seigneurial rights. The city then developed around a castral pole. It was not until the early 15th century that this urban space was fortified (1409). A portion of this defensive work was apprehended during the 2023 archaeological operation. A curtain wall, crowned with battlements, was thus recognized over several meters. It conforms to the significant gradients of the rock, which is here identified as a travertine deposit. Below this defensive work, the discovery of alluvial deposits confirms the presence nearby, even flush, of the Allier.
An urban island of the late 15th century-early 16th century
The excavation revealed two buildings, dating from the late 15th-early 16th centuries. These take place on the edge of the rock, outside the fortified city, against the curtain wall. Their simple recognition testifies to the partial abandonment of the fortified facilities of the city, with a colonization of the ramparts by various constructions. These are then possible because of a gradual retreat of the Allier, towards its south bank, attested from the end of the 15th century, which leaves virgin spaces of any construction to exploit.
A transformation into a neo-Gothic mansion (19th century)
From the 16th century to the 18th century, the various owners of the building took advantage of the dismantling of the fortifications of the city to enlarge, embellish and equip it with outbuildings. However, it was not until 1885 that Charles Graviers du Monsseaux, transformed this complex of heterogeneous buildings into a vast mansion in neo-Gothic style. A coherent architectural program is then followed for the creation of the «Castel-Franc».
Layout: SAS MAJESTIC
Scientific Control:
DRAC
Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, Regional Archaeological Service
Archaeological research:
Inrap
Science Lead: Mathilde Duriez,
Inrap
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