Stay 
Col du Béal
approx. 5.5 km
A pass in the Forez mountains at 1,387 m, popular for hiking, cycling, snowkiting and cross-country skiing. There is an inn, a gîte and a shop selling local products.
Château des Marcilly-Talaru: stay in a medieval château at Chalmazel
The Château des Marcilly-Talaru, also known as the Château de Chalmazel, overlooks the Lignon valley in the Forez mountains. According to Wikipedia, it was conceived in the 13th century as a fortress and later embellished in the Renaissance by the Talaru family. Today this château hotel lets you stay overnight, close to the Chalmazel ski resort.
At a glance
- Location
- Place du Château, Chalmazel-Jeansagnière (Loire, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes), in the Forez mountains
- Accommodation
- Medieval fortress château reworked in the Renaissance, listed on Expedia as a château hotel; Wikipedia mentions five historic guest rooms, including one suite
- Highlights
- Listed historic monument, chapel and justice hall, free Wi-Fi in public areas, free parking, meeting room, wedding service
- Guest rating
- 9.2/10 from 39 reviews on Expedia (as of 14 Oct 2026)
- Check-in & check-out
- Check-in 4–10 pm · check-out at 12 noon
- Good to know
- Pets allowed for an extra charge · breakfast at extra cost, served 9–10 am · no daily housekeeping · no lift · non-smoking
Staying at the Château des Marcilly-Talaru: a night in a Forez fortress
To stay at the Château des Marcilly-Talaru is to spend the night in a genuine mountain fortress, with its square keep, machicolated wall-walk and Renaissance inner courtyard. According to Wikipedia, the château offers five historic guest rooms, including a suite, and can be visited from June to September. On Expedia it is listed among the châteaux, with a rating of 9.2/10 from 39 reviews.
On the service side, the listing mentions free Wi-Fi in public areas, free parking with limited spaces, multilingual staff, a meeting room and a wedding service. A made-to-order breakfast is served daily from 9 to 10 am for an extra charge. There is no daily housekeeping and no lift, so bear that in mind if you travel with heavy luggage.
Pets are accepted for an extra charge, and assistance animals are exempt from fees. Several restaurants and inns lie 8 to 18 minutes away by car, so you can vary your evening meals after a day of walking or skiing.
Photos of Château des Marcilly-Talaru
The history of the Château des Marcilly-Talaru, the Chalmazel fortress
- 1231 – According to Wikipedia, Arnaud de Marcilly begins building a fortress at Chalmazel on the orders of Guy IV, Count of Forez, as a barrier against the ambitions of the neighbouring lordship of Couzan.
- 1364–1372 – Béatrix de Marcilly marries Mathieu de Talaru; on her brother's death she inherits Chalmazel, which thus passes to the Talaru.
- c. 1400 – The Talaru build a pentagonal curtain wall and add machicolations to the keep.
- 16th century – Back from the Italian Wars, the Marquis de Talaru adds Renaissance features: an openwork façade, galleries around the inner courtyard and the chapel decoration.
- 1850 – Louis-Justin, the last Marquis de Talaru, bequeaths the château and its woods to the Sisters of Saint-Joseph to found a hospital for the canton.
- 1949 – The façades, roofs and surrounding land are listed as historic monuments.
- 1972 – The sisters leave the château for good; it is then rented to the commune.
- 2000 – The inner chapel and the so-called “justice hall” are also listed as historic monuments.
- 2002 – The château is bought by a family who restore it and create guest rooms.
With its medieval look, the château has kept elements of the 13th-century fortified house: arrow slits, the base of the walls, the keep and the machicolated wall-walk. Originally dark and severe, with four round towers dominated by a square keep, it gained Renaissance touches over the centuries, visible in the façade, the inner courtyard and the chapel.
From 1533 the Talaru, heirs of the Marcilly, preferred to live in other residences, such as the one at Écotay, less exposed to the harsh Forez winters; Chalmazel became a summer residence. This information comes from Wikipedia, some passages of which still lack sources.
Facilities and services at the Château des Marcilly-Talaru
The details below come from the Expedia listing (as of 14 Oct 2026); they may vary by room or season.
The château
- Listed historic monument
- Inner chapel and justice hall
- Meeting room
- Wedding service
- Multilingual staff
Food & drink
- Made-to-order breakfast, 9–10 am (extra charge)
- Restaurants and inns 8 to 18 minutes away by car
Comfort & connection
- Free Wi-Fi in public areas
- No daily housekeeping
- No lift
- Non-smoking property
Practical
- Free on-site parking (limited spaces)
- Pets allowed for an extra charge
- Payment by card or cash
Where the Château des Marcilly-Talaru is: between Forez and Livradois
The château stands in the centre of Chalmazel, a village in the Forez mountains between Saint-Étienne and Thiers, in the new commune of Chalmazel-Jeansagnière. It overlooks the Lignon valley. A car is the easiest way to get there: according to Expedia, Olliergues-Vertolaye station is 33 minutes away by road and Saint-Étienne - Loire airport 65 minutes.
In the surroundings, the Col du Béal and Pierre-sur-Haute, the highest point of the Forez mountains, are less than 7 km away as the crow flies; the Chalmazel ski resort lies on that mountain's eastern flank. Expedia also names the Livradois-Forez Regional Natural Park and the Jasseries ski lifts as landmarks of the area.
For heritage, the Château de Couzan, Chalmazel's medieval rival, is less than 10 km away, while La Bâtie d'Urfé, Ambert and Montbrison are about twenty kilometres off.
Distances (as the crow flies from the Château des Marcilly-Talaru)
| Chalmazel (village) | approx. 300 m |
| Col du Béal | approx. 5.5 km |
| Pierre-sur-Haute | approx. 6.5 km |
| Jasseries de Colleigne (nature reserve) | approx. 6.5 km |
| Château de Couzan | approx. 9.5 km |
| Château de la Bâtie d'Urfé | approx. 18 km |
| Richard-de-Bas paper mill | approx. 18 km |
| Ambert | approx. 19 km |
| Écotay-l'Olme (keep) | approx. 19 km |
| Montbrison | approx. 20 km |
Distances calculated as the crow flies; driving times to the station and airport are taken from the Expedia listing.
Things to see around the Château des Marcilly-Talaru
Pierre-sur-Haute
approx. 6.5 km
The highest point of the Forez mountains (1,631 m) and of the Loire département. The Chalmazel ski resort lies on its eastern flank; the summit carries a military radio station.
Château de Couzan
approx. 9.5 km
A medieval fortress built between the 11th and 15th centuries on a granite hill at Sail-sous-Couzan, at the heart of the Damas family's lands. It overlooks the Lignon and Chagnon valleys.
Château de la Bâtie d'Urfé
approx. 18 km
A Forez château remodelled from 1547 to 1558 by Claude d'Urfé, where his grandson Honoré d'Urfé, author of L'Astrée, lived. It is open to visitors all year.
Richard-de-Bas paper mill
approx. 18 km
A mill at Ambert that is said to date back to 1326 and still makes high-quality paper. Its façades and roofs have been listed as historic monuments since 1983.
Montbrison
approx. 20 km
The historic capital of the Forez, seat of the counts of Forez until 1531. The sober Gothic collegiate church of Notre-Dame-d'Espérance was built between 1223 and 1466.
Tours & activities near Château des Marcilly-Talaru
Experiences in the region that you can book online with Viator:
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Hameau Duboeuf, 1st theme park on Vine and Wine in Europe
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Croix Rousse Market & Rooftop Cooking Class in Lyon
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Pastries & Stories of Lyon with a Local Guide
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Lyon: Private Burgundy Half Day Wine Tour by Vintage Land Rover
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Dark Lyon
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Full-Day Beaujolais Wine Tour - Picnic Lunch Included
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Who is the Château des Marcilly-Talaru for?
History lovers
A 13th-century fortress turned Renaissance residence, with its chapel and justice hall, and the Château de Couzan close by.
Hikers and skiers
The Col du Béal, Pierre-sur-Haute and the Chalmazel ski resort are a few kilometres away: an ideal mountain base.
Couples & weddings
A medieval setting and a wedding service mentioned by Expedia, for a romantic break or a reception.
Groups & seminars
The listing mentions a meeting room and multilingual staff, handy for a small group or a working stay.
Good to know before booking the Château des Marcilly-Talaru
- Check-in is from 4 pm to 10 pm and check-out at 12 noon.
- Pets are allowed for an extra charge; assistance animals are exempt.
- Breakfast, prepared to order, is served from 9 to 10 am at an extra charge.
- Parking is free but spaces are limited. There is no housekeeping service and no lift.
- The château is non-smoking. Payment is by card or cash; cash payments are capped under national regulations.
- Extra charges may apply for additional guests; photo ID and a payment card or deposit may be requested at check-in.
Find available dates at Château des Marcilly-Talaru
Frequently asked questions
Can you stay overnight at the Château des Marcilly-Talaru?
Yes. The Château de Chalmazel, also known as the Château des Marcilly-Talaru, can be booked on Expedia. According to Wikipedia, it offers five historic guest rooms, including a suite.
Are pets allowed?
Yes, according to Expedia pets are allowed for an extra charge. Assistance animals are exempt from the fee.
What are the check-in and check-out times?
Check-in is possible from 4 pm to 10 pm. Check-out is at 12 noon.
Is breakfast included?
No. A made-to-order breakfast is available every day from 9 to 10 am for an extra charge.
Is there parking near the château?
Yes, the listing mentions free on-site parking, without service, with a limited number of spaces.
What is there to see near the Château des Marcilly-Talaru?
The Col du Béal and Pierre-sur-Haute are less than 7 km away, the Château de Couzan about 10 km, and La Bâtie d'Urfé, Ambert and Montbrison about twenty kilometres.
Room photos, guest reviews and available dates are all in the Château des Marcilly-Talaru listing on Expedia.
Fancy a night in a Forez fortress? Check availability and current prices for the Château des Marcilly-Talaru on Expedia.
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