Picture by N. Bresset for Haute-Loire Tourisme
The original castle of La Rochelambert was built in the 11th century on the side of a basalt column. Its purpose was to protect the pilgrims on their way to Santiago de Compostela (Spain). It was destroyed during France's war of religions in the 16th century, but rebuilt later in the same century in a Renaissance style. It has remained largely unchanged since then.
The famous French writer George Sand included the castle in her novel "Jean de la Roche".
