Val Castle

Built in the 15th century, Val is one of the best-preserved and most remarkable castles in the Haute-Auvergne region. This imposing fortress is flanked by six towers crowned with machicolations and topped with pepperpot roofs, whose varied roofing gives Val's roof a unique shimmering display of colors. In the main courtyard, a Gothic chapel (a listed historical monument), also dating from the 15th century, is dedicated to Saint Blaise. The castle is entered through an iron-clad gate, the tympanum of which is adorned with a bas-relief bearing the fleur-de-lis coat of arms of the d'Estaing family. A spiral staircase leads to the various floors via a vestibule, which was originally an open-air courtyard. After several periods of abandonment and successive restorations, Val has been owned by the town of Bort-les-Orgues since 1953. It is located in the commune of Lanobre, in the Cantal department.