A centuries-old witness at the heart of the Creuse.
When crossing the bridge over the Thaurion, one's gaze is inevitably drawn to the austere and majestic silhouette of Pontarion Castle. Close to the banks of the river, this venerable building has been a historical and emotional landmark for the town of Pontarion and its surrounding area since the 15th century.
A monument of stone and memory, this family castle stands out in the Creuse landscape as a discreet but essential emblem, whose history, although fragmentary, is at the heart of that of La Marche, the ancient province to which Creuse belongs.
Of chivalrous origins
The construction of Pontarion Castle dates back to the second half of the 15th century. The building was erected at the initiative of Antoine d'Aubusson, brother of the famous Pierre d'Aubusson, Grand Master of the Knights of Saint John of Jerusalem, a legendary figure in the defense of Rhodes against the Ottomans in 1480.
Antoine, captain general of the gentlemen of La Marche and Limousin during the siege of Rhodes, is said to have brought back from his campaigns this taste for defensive architecture. The castle, then located on the edge of a strategic ford on the Thaurion River, was originally intended to have seven towers, of which only traces remain today in the structure of the main building and an annex along the current D941 road.
A castle saved from abandonment in the 20th century
On the eve of the 20th century, the building was described in local archives as " the remains of a castle ." It was not until 1936 that a man of passion and conviction, André Roussel Le Roy, acquired it and undertook, at his own expense, extensive consolidation and restoration work.
Many interventions were carried out from this time:
Two of the old towers were partially rebuilt.
Essential repairs were carried out on weakened structures.
In place of a collapsed building visible on postcards from 1907, a crenellated enclosure wall was erected.
Inside, the floors were reinforced, concrete corbels added, and several fireplaces restored, two of which bear the Maltese Cross, awarded by the Order in tribute to the memory of Antoine d'Aubusson.
In 1941, the castle was officially listed in the Supplementary Inventory of Historic Monuments (ISMH).
<— Drawing by Auguste Clergeau
A Story of Family Heritage
Upon the death of André Roussel Le Roy in 1973, his niece, Suzanne Darricau, inherited the property. She ensured, with consistency and modesty, the maintenance and preservation of the estate, supported by the services of the Architect of the Buildings of France in Guéret.
From 1973 to 1994, there were numerous interventions:
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Roof and perimeter wall repairs
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Restoration of plasterwork and consolidation of gables
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Pruning and reasoned felling of century-old trees
In 1994, upon the death of Suzanne Darricau, her son took up the mantle and undertook significant safety and maintenance work. The Château de Pontarion then seemed saved and ready for the 21st century.
The tragedy of 2023: a devastating tornado
On March 9, 2023, in the mid-afternoon, a tornado of rare intensity (EF2, estimated winds of 175–220 km/h) struck the village of Pontarion. The castle was severely damaged.
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Ancient trees uprooted both on the north side and on the banks of the Thaurion.
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Roofs torn off, framework damaged, tiles propelled dozens of meters away.
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Recently broken windows, tiles even lodged in the lightning rod.
Alerted quickly, the municipality, the firefighters and the Nicon company mobilized to urgently install a temporary tarpaulin, followed in June by a more permanent waterproofing, coordinated with the DRAC Limoges and the UDAP Guéret.
A Heritage to Preserve: Current State and Future Prospects
In 2024, under the direction of the DLAA.ARCHI Agency and Christophe Gillet, Heritage Architect, a comprehensive architectural survey was conducted:
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Complete building survey, 3D modeling of the roofs and attics.
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Exterior orthophotography and drone imagery.
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Detailed heritage diagnosis of the 15th-century roof structures, noted for their remarkable quality and authenticity.
This work was accompanied by a joint expertise with Roussy-Avignon, a company specialised in heritage restoration.
The conclusions are unequivocal: the original framework, although admirably preserved for its age, has suffered severe structural damage. The projected restoration works exceed €500,000 and require a financing plan combining public aid, private sponsorship, and citizen contributions.
Towards a Shared Renaissance
Beyond its stones and roofs, the Château de Pontarion embodies the history of a region, the loyalty of a family, and the collective memory of a village. Its preservation is now the responsibility of all those who, sensitive to the prestige of historical things and the transmission of heritage, wish to contribute to its future.
A fundraising appeal is being prepared via La Demeure Historique , with the stated support of the Pontarion Town Hall and numerous local partners.
« Heritage is not something one owns:
it is received, protected, and passed on. »
