Veauce is a French commune in the Allier department, in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, 16 km northwest of Gannat.
Its territory of 3.5 km² belongs to the former Duchy of Bourbon, now called Bourbonnais, a discreetly hilly natural and cultural region renowned for its forests and bocage meadows. The locality bordered to the south by the course of the %).
The history of the modest village is closely linked to that of its castle which stands on a spur, in the south of the territory. A first fortress was established on behalf of Charlemagne at the beginning of the 9th century, marking the border between the Duchy of Aquitaine and the provinces of Auvergne, Berry and Bourbonnais. Enlarged and remodeled over time, the last major modifications dating from the 19th century, the impressive castle is the jewel of the town, which also has a beautiful Romanesque church.
The small village of 40 inhabitants is certainly worth a big detour!
Before discovering the castle whose silhouette dominates the modest village, it is appropriate in terms of heritage to visit the Sainte-Croix parish church. It was built from 1080 by the local lord Aimon de Veauce who donated it to the monks of the Saint-Léger d'Ebreuil abbey, a few kilometers to the south. The church will then have a chapter in the 14th century. The building is a perfect example of the Auvergne Romanesque style, and has some similarities with the church of Saint-Saturnin, near Clermont-Ferrand. Like this one, it has for example an ambulatory which does not overlook any radiant chapel. Note also that even before the Revolution, the nave was reduced (removal of two bays in 1779) but that the bell tower, on the other hand, was raised in 1882. Listed in 1862, the church retains a sculpted group representing Saint George slaying the dragon and a recumbent figure with carved high relief, both classified as objects.
Then head to the castle. Built halfway up a hillside, it presents itself as a concentration of styles. Although there remains no evidence of its Carolingian origins, the enclosure nevertheless retains towers from the 13th and 14th centuries and a covered walkway. The whole overlooks a main courtyard. To the north (village side), a house was built in the 15th century in place of part of the fortifications. It is framed by two towers. In the 17th century, a terrace was built, accentuating the now more residential character of the site, Veauce having been erected into a barony. Finally, in the 19th century, a main building with a gatehouse, all in the neo-Renaissance style, was added to the northeast.
Several noble families succeeded one another at the head of the lordship and therefore of the castle, but we should note the name of Baron Charles de Cadier (1820-1884) who carried out the necessary restorations in the 19th century while the the entire estate had lost its splendor... This resulted in the new home but also alterations in the "troubadour" style then in vogue. His descendants sold the castle in 1973, which was bought again in 2002, the Mincer family, of British origin, initiating renovations.
Note also that the castle is surrounded by a 12-hectare park designed in the 17th century where a French garden and an English-inspired space combine, and that a tenacious legend contributes to the reputation of the site: since In the 16th century, the ghost of a mistress of the baron of the time, murdered by his jealous wife, is said to regularly haunt the place.
Obviously listed in the Inventory, still private property, the castle itself, which has around a hundred rooms, is not open to visitors. On the other hand, the park is accessible all year round for guided tours. Price: 8 euros. Free for children under 12. It is better to prevent. Information on +33 6 95 42 83 44 or +33 6 75 10 69 99.
Still on the heritage front, in the immediate vicinity of the estate, between the village and the castle, the Noix manor is visible. Dating from the 16th century, in Renaissance style, this old outbuilding presents itself as a "miniature" copy of the seigneurial castle. For a long time it was the manager's home. Its exteriors were transformed into a walnut grove in the 19th century. Nowadays, the site, private, is the property of one of the founders of the “Théâtres de Bourbon” festival, and thus hosts several performances in summer.
A stopover at Veauce can finally be synonymous with hiking or mountain biking: several secure circuits are available from the village or stopping there, which allow you to discover and enjoy bucolic landscapes as desired, including wooded areas. Maps and information from the intercommunal tourist office on +33 4 70 45 32 73.
