Forteresse de Saint-Vidal

On the territory of a town that now bears his name, the imposing fortress of Saint-Vidal dominates the Borne valley from the height of its thousand years, during which it has witnessed the history of France: The historians of Velay attest to the departure of a Saint-Vidal to the first crusade alongside the spiritual leader Adhémar de Monteil, bishop of Le Puy. He took part in the capture of Antioch with Héracle de Polignac.

The first written records attributed to the Saint-Vidal family, in a will, date from the 13th century, when the Viscount of Polignac entrusted the high seigniorial justice of the fortress to Hugues de La Tour. The latter then took the title of Baron of Saint-Vidal. In the 14th century, Hugon de Saint-Vidal considerably enlarged his family's fiefs. In the 16th century, following in his father's footsteps, Antoine II de Saint-Vidal, governor and seneschal of Velay and Gévaudan, Grand Master of the Artillery of France, further reinforced the structure, transforming it into a fortress.

Discover at the Saint-Vidal Fortress:

The gardens
• French-style garden | Homage to André Le Nôtre
The French garden aims to be a link between the medieval period and French classicism. Discover the subtle curves and geometric shapes of a garden where more than 3500 plants and perennials surround you. Inhale the fragrances that envelop you.

• Italian garden | Italian Renaissance terrace
Breathe in the soul of Italy in the heart of Auvergne. A great architect of the Italian Renaissance, Sebastiano Serlio left his mark on the fortress of Saint-Vidal; to pay homage to him, a garden was dedicated to him.
Enjoy the Tuscan calm and the view of orange, lemon and cypress trees…

• Water Garden | The Great Mirror of Water
Engage all five senses as you stroll around a monumental basin fed by a spring that flows into a tributary of the Loire. Admire the fortress reflected in the water and breathe in the multitude of scents of a fabulous and authentic natural setting.

The Memory of a People | A Promenade Performance
Come and journey back through French history and let yourself be transported to a thousand-year-old fortress. Each room will offer a unique encounter with your memories, where you will meet knights, builders, crusaders, the damned… The walls sigh, the paintings speak to you, the ghosts of the depths emerge, the animals howl, the books open, and the suits of armor ride… Enter the epic.

The Old-Fashioned Brewery | Animated Show
The former stables of the Saint-Vidal fortress now host a new show that revolves around the history of the brewery. This playful sound and light show offers fifteen-minute loops within the heart of the castle's microbrewery.

Free access to the gardens, according to opening hours.