When we discover the landscapes of Broc, south of Issoire in Puy-de-Dôme, we quickly understand why the town received the label “small town of character”. Dominated by a castle, the fortified village “becomes one with the relief”, explains the Issoire Tourist Office.
The Château du Broc was built facing the Allier in the 13th century.e century, indicates the label’s website. It is around this building that the village was built at the end of a basalt flow. Its name could come from the Latin brochus (prominence) or Gallic (rocky spur). Also fortified, the village constituted a first rampart against attackers.
Carved stones
The walk around the remains of this historic place is one of the must-sees. You can see hanging gardens, troglodyte cellars, a medieval oven, belvederes and old fortified houses, also specifies France Bleu Pays d’Auvergne . On the plateau at the foot of the chestnut trees, there are “sculpted stones”, patterns carved into the rock. “We can see the coat of arms of a lord of Montmorin, owner of the castle at the end of the 16th century.e century, as well as the silhouettes of a recumbent figure, a horse, a heraldic lion and a satyr’s head”, underlines the tourist office.
On the lime plateau is the Notre Dame de La Chaux chapel. A place which allows you to observe the high square keep, built around the 13th centurye century, and which offers a beautiful panorama of the Allier and the Lembron plain.
Read also: Kaamelott filming location, this castle perched at an altitude of 1,000 m is the most visited in Auvergne
Also worth seeing: the winegrowers’ houses and the mile marker, with its hiking trail. Going to Broc during the month of July finally allows you to enjoy the medieval festival. A real journey back in time to the moment when the fort had all its importance.
