The fortified castle of Polignac (also known as the Polignac fortress ) occupies a hillock or basalt platform, fragment of an ancient volcanic flow (altitude: 700 m), overlooking the Polignac valley and the Puy basin. The rock is bordered by steep cliffs almost 100 m high, except to the north, where a triple line of ramparts has been laid out. The fortress, which occupied a strategic location commanding the roads to the west and north of the town of Le Puy, could house 800 soldiers in addition to the family and its servants. Well sheltered in their fortress, the lords of Polignac were able...

The fortified castle of Polignac (also known as the Polignac fortress ) occupies a hillock or basalt platform, fragment of an ancient volcanic flow (altitude: 700 m), overlooking the Polignac valley and the Puy basin. The rock is bordered by steep cliffs almost 100 m high, except to the north, where a triple line of ramparts has been laid out. The fortress, which occupied a strategic location commanding the roads to the west and north of the town of Le Puy, could house 800 soldiers in addition to the family and its servants. Well sheltered in their fortress, the lords of Polignac were able to become masters of the country. Allies of the kings of France but of independent character, they did not hesitate to rebel against the royal authority of Louis VI le Gros (1080-1137) then of Louis XI (1423-1483). On July 17, 1532, the castle received the visit of François I. The king was accommodated in the buildings in hard and the courtiers in a large main building in frame erected on the esplanade for this purpose. On this occasion, the king gave the Polignacs the nickname "kings of the mountains". During the wars of religion, the Polignacs took the side of Henri III then of his successor, Henri IV , making the castle the bastion of the Royalists opposite the Puy ligueur. The fortress contributed to the triumph of the royalist cause. Abandoned during the 17th century by the Viscounts of Polignac, who preferred their summer castle at La Voûte-Polignac, the fortress was already in ruins at the time of the Revolution. This saw the Polignacs emigrate and the fortress, sold as national property, serve as a stone quarry. Upon return from emigration, the Polignac family bought the ruins in 1830 and had part of the castle restored during the 19th century. Prosper Mérimée, first inspector of historic monuments, classified the site in 1840. The restorations are continuing today under the aegis of the Fondation Forteresse de Polignac.