What does « martinet » mean in the name of the château ?

The term « martinet » refers to a forge workshop equipped with a mechanical hammer, used here in the 17th century for copper processing. This former workshop gave the estate its name.

Why is the granary built above the stable ?

This practical layout enabled easy animal feeding and extended winter housing, essential in the harsh Auvergne climate. The 1670 granary is among the last surviving examples of this regional building method.

Is the entire château protected as a historic monument ?

No, only the facades and roof of the barrel-vaulted granary, known as the « old barn », are listed as a protected monument since 1974. The château building itself is not protected.

Château du Martinet

Martinet Castle

Saint-Simon

Access

No visits on recordNo opening hours or ticketing found

Where: Saint-Simon

To make a day of it

Open within 20 km

Sleep nearby

Château du Martinet stands in Saint-Simon (Cantal), in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of France. The building is registered as a historic monument (dating recorded in the Mérimée database: third quarter of the 17th century). The building is privately owned and no visits are on record.

The Martinet estate near Saint-Simon in Cantal takes its name from a 17th-century copper-forging workshop once active on the land. At its core stands a barrel-vaulted granary built in 1670, recognised as one of the last surviving examples of a rural building type that was common throughout the Auvergne region until the French Revolution. This structure, known as the « old barn », is notable for its practical design: the grain storage level sits directly above the cattle shelter, enabling efficient feeding and extended winter housing for livestock.

What to know

The official protection as a historic monument covers only the facades and roof of the barrel-vaulted granary, listed in 1974.
The château proper, assembled from miscellaneous elements from the 18th and 19th centuries, lacks significant architectural merit and is not protected.
A later rural structure known as a « védelat » was added to the granary on its south-west side.
The current park was redesigned in the 19th century.

Where this château is

Saint-Simon · Cantal · Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes

Map of the area around Château du Martinet

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This châteauChâteaux within 40 km

Address

Saint-Simon, Cantal

Directions open from wherever you are, by car or public transport.

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Heritage status: Registered historic monument (inscrit); Mérimée record PA00093660
Period of construction: third quarter of the 17th century

Frequently asked

What does « martinet » mean in the name of the château ?: The term « martinet » refers to a forge workshop equipped with a mechanical hammer, used here in the 17th century for copper processing. This former workshop gave the estate its name.
Why is the granary built above the stable ?: This practical layout enabled easy animal feeding and extended winter housing, essential in the harsh Auvergne climate. The 1670 granary is among the last surviving examples of this regional building method.
Is the entire château protected as a historic monument ?: No, only the facades and roof of the barrel-vaulted granary, known as the « old barn », are listed as a protected monument since 1974. The château building itself is not protected.