Chateldon

Visit Chateldon, Auvergne

Chateldon in the Puy de Dôme is known in France and elsewhere for two things: its very fine spring water, allegedly the favourite of Louis XIV and served in all smart restaurants, and the fact that Pierre Laval, the Vichy Government Prime Minister was born here and bought the Chateau in the 1930’s. It should be known for better reasons.

Exploring Chateldon

As you drive into Chateldon on the road from Puy Guillaume you see the 13th Century chateau rising up above the village. Walking through the village you realize that much of the original 13th and 14th century town fortifications still exist and form part of the walls of buildings and houses still in use.

In the village you will see the 15th century Church of Saint-Sulpice, parts of the medieval ramparts, 12th century castle and the chateau stables, the 16th century village centre with some lovely half-timbered houses, the 17th century ‘maisons de vignerons’ and the belfry.

You will also see the more recent 19th century buildings and bath house.

For the archaeologically minded it is an exciting place to visit and for those who just love old places the village, which aspires to be ‘un des plus beau village de France’, is well worth an afternoon’s wander.

Pick up the leaflet at the mairie, ‘Chateldon, petite ville au grand renom’ and it will guide you round this fascinating place.

History of Chateldon

Chateldon has had a very interesting history, which stretches back to the middle ages and before, and there remains much evidence of this. A knowledge of this history is useful to help you make the most of your visit here. Nowadays it may seem a small and unimportant medieval village with its shop, pharmacy and ‘maison de la  presse’ but the buildings tell a different story.

In the 13th century Chateldon flourished. Tanneries were set up beside the river Vauziron that flows down from the Montagne Bourbonnaise behind and, tradition has it, that the world-famous cutlery industry that flourished in Thiers owed its beginnings to 13th century Chateldonians who made farm implements.

Chateldon went into decline as a result of the 100 years war and then the Black Death of 1348. Many of the toolmakers fled to Thiers to escape the plague.

The 15th century saw a revival, trade flourished once again, and magnificent stone and timbered buildings from this date still stand around the square that was once a market square. The 16th century saw another change in the fortunes of Chateldon as vineyards began to cover the slopes surrounding the village.

Recently the Mairie in Chateldon has been responsible for restoring some of the typical 17th century houses of the winemakers, typically with a dark stone built winery in the basement and on the ground floor and living quarters above.

Much of the wine produced was taken to the nearby Port de Ris on the River Allier, loaded onto small, specially built boats and transported via the Allier and Loire to the coast or Paris.

Wood and wine were the materials for Chateldon’s staple industries throughout the second part of the 19th and early 20th centuries. A furniture building industry grew up and in 1885 the Puy de Dôme was the third largest wine producing area in France and the slopes around Chateldon were covered with vineyards.

However phylloxera destroyed many of the vines in the 1890s and pine plantations started to replace them. However, at this time Chateldon could be described as flourishing; a small town with hotels, shops and restaurants and aspiring to be a spa.

Tourist classifications for Chateldon: Village in bloom (ville fleurie) 2*;

Suggested places to visit near Chateldon, France

Distances shown are direct, driving distances will be greater.

More suggestions: Livradois-Forez Regional Park 33km; Riom 33km; Mozac 36km; Charroux 36km; Volvic 39km; Chareil-Cintrat Chateau 40km; Clermont-Ferrand 40km; Saint-Pourcain-sur-Sioule 41km; Montpeyroux 46km; Saint-Saturnin 48km; Puy-de-Dome 49km; Ambert 51km; Usson 52km; Issoire 52km; Semur-en-Brionnais 54km; Anzy-le-Duc 56km;

See these places and more on a map at places near Chateldon

Chateldon tourism: sights and attractions nearby

Parc du domaine royal de Randan - remarkable garden (14km) : Collégiale Saint-Victor et Sainte-Couronne d'Ennezat (Ennezat) - religious monument (23km) : Abbatial church de Saint Pierre de Mozac (Mozac) - religious monument (32km) : Marsat - town of art and history (36km) : Cathédrale Notre Dame de l'Assomption (Clermont-ferrand) - religious monument (37km) : Parc du château de Blanzat - remarkable garden (38km) : Basilique Notre Dame du Port (Clermont-Ferrand) - religious monument (40km) : Eglise de Saint Léger (Royat) - religious monument (43km) :

French version: see Chateldon (Francais)