Editorial

Located on the borders of Auvergne, in the small village of Chavaniac in Haute-Loire, this fortified house from the 14ᵗʰ century, altered and restored several times during its history, is the birthplace of the famous General Marquis de Lafayette.

This extraordinary historical figure is internationally known. The charm of his manor house and an important sense of duty to preserve his memory led an American organization, the Memorial Lafayette, and a team of enthusiasts to revive the history of Lafayette and preserve his former estate. The castle, its outbuildings and the park have been listed in the Supplementary Inventory of Historical Monuments since 1989.

This historic and exceptional place has been under the management of the Haute-Loire Department since July 2009 and plans to renovate it as it is recognized as a remarkable site that has marked this region.

We offer a visit which will take you to the heart of the 18ᵗʰ century. You will discover the castle where the General was born as well as its park which is one of the rare gardens in Haute-Loire that are opened to the public. Several areas with exceptional botanical diversity are juxtaposed in the way imagined by John Moffat, president and founder of the French Heroes Lafayette Memorial Fund in 1920.

Department of Haute-Loire