The building is an architectural ensemble in the shape of a quadrilateral around an interior courtyard. Built from small irregular limestone rubble, it is made up of two main buildings. A square tower with more careful masonry marks the northeast corner of the courtyard, adopting the classic plan of dungeons. A projecting massif flanks the southeast corner, while the northwest corner is marked by two turrets. Attached to the main tower, a passageway gives access to the interior courtyard onto which a covered gallery opens which develops in front of the seigniorial chapel. All the bay frames are made of cut stone.
The tower probably dates from the end of the 13th or beginning of the 14th century, it seems to be the oldest core of the fortified house. The eastern rectangular main building was undoubtedly built later, perhaps from the middle of the 14th century. It is occupied on the first floor by a ceremonial room with a monumental fireplace. From the second half of the 15th century, buildings were erected to the west of the courtyard, and subsequently redeveloped in the 16th and 17th centuries.
The castle chapel, rectangular in plan, pointed barrel vaulted and lit to the west by two trefoiled windows, probably dates from this period (2013th century); it is accessible via a gallery with columns undoubtedly built in the XNUMXth century. A decor, predominantly red and yellow ocher, covers it from floor to ceiling. It was completely restored in XNUMX.
History:
Guyonnet de Loras, first lord of Montplaisant appears in an act dated December 2, 1302. Although it is not expressly mentioned before the 1338th century, the fortified house of Montplaisant was already built in 1339. One of the three members of the Loras family is mentioned in the dolphin investigation. In 9, Antoine de Luerno, witness for the parish of Brens, declared that there were four noble families, each with a fortified house. In his will of June 1463, XNUMX, known from a XNUMXth century copy, Antoine de Loras requested the celebration of several masses in the chapel of the Château de Montplaisant.
Painted decor:
The painted decoration is distinguished by the use of numerous repeated ornamental motifs, undoubtedly made with a stencil. We also note the use of screen panels and patterns giving an effect of perspective (diamond-shaped floor evoking paving). On the vault are small red 8-pointed stars. Scenes and figures are represented in the center of the walls: On the east wall (chevet), a Calvary above the Last Supper; on the west wall, two angels present the shield with the arms of the Loras, under a helm with crest and lambrequins; on the north wall, an Annunciation with donor to 3 phylacteries, as well as a tonsured cleric, kneeling in prayer before his patron saint; finally on the south wall, a Saint Anthony abbot, accompanied by a holy bishop (Saint Hilary?), in a perspective frame. Between the two bays there is a Saint Catherine, identifiable thanks to the sword of her detachment and the wheel.
On the first floor, the “aula” (stately room) is also decorated. Patterns surmount the mullion and lattice window in the south wall: on a green background, two outstretched hands hold a red-edged cartouche bearing a lacunar Latin inscription. The jambs of the fireplace have retained traces of polychromy and the ceiling with exposed joists is decorated with multiple inscriptions. “NIHIL MICHI QUOD TIBI” is repeated several times. Other traces of paintings, probably from the 16th century, are still visible on the west wall.
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