Château de Billy
The Château de Billy is a ruined 13th – 14th century castle in the town of Billy in the Allier département of France.[1]
History
For the first several centuries of its existence, the Château de Billy was the property of its builders, the Bourbons. The fortified town of Billy and the province of Bourbonnais were part of the domain of the lordship of the Bourbons. Both the castle and the lordship remained powerful until the French revolution (1789).
Architecture
The main fortification has an ovoid layout with a hexagonal watchtower which dominates the houses of the borough and the medieval streets that curve around the walls of the castle. An imposing châtelet guards the entrance. The southern curtain wall has a walkway that offers a splendid panorama of the Allier valley.
The castle is privately owned and open to the public. It has been listed since 1921 as a monument historique by the French Ministry of Culture.[1]
See also
References
External links
- Ministry of Culture listing for Château de Billy (French)
- Ministry of Culture photos
- Auvergne website (French)
- Route Chateaux Auvergne (French)
Sources
- French Ministry of Culture (French)
Coordinates: 46°14′12″N 3°25′43″E / 46.23667°N 3.42861°E