Château de la Johannie

Johannes is the latin form of Jean or John and is named after the original owner or the house of Jean.[1]^: 135

It was built circa 1308 on an old house built in 1083.[2] It belonged to Hugues de Jean in the 14th century.[2][3] It stayed in the Jean family (later known as the Johannie family) until 1498, when it was acquired by Vassal family, who owned 1/7th of Curemonte.[3] Marguerite de la Johannie had married Pierre Vassal in 1460 who was the Lord of Tourette nearby in Betaille.[1]^: 137

It was acquired by Mathurin le Brun on 11 March 1623 after the widow of Jacques de Vassal, Marguerite de Belcastel de Campaniac and nephew Jean Vassal sold it.[3][1]^: 137 Then is was acquired by the d'Ambert family when Antoine d'Ambert married Agathe le Brun in 1594.[3][1]^: 137 It was acquired by the Plas family in 1693 who resided next door at Châteaux de Saint-Hilaire et des Plas.[3]

In 1830, the descendants of the Plas family left Curemonte, and Chateau de la Johannie was now in the hands of the Escaravage family which held it until 1971.[1]^: 137 It was then purchased by the Bescançon family as a second home and kept it until 1988 when it was purchased by the Pierre Wack family.[1]^: 137

This house consists of two wings.[1]^: 136 A square stair tower located at the centre of the two wings houses the spiral staircase that serves the two buildings.[1]^: 136 The buildings had defensive machicolation's or loopholes at roof height, but they were removed in the past.[1]^: 136 The main entrance door, above ground level, would have been accessed by a wooded staircase and deck in the past.[1]^: 136 The windows become larger as the height above the ground increase.[1]^: 136 On the east side, there is a carved window.[1]^: 136

It has been listed as an official monument since 1981.[2]

45.0000°N 1.7425°E / 45.0000; 1.7425

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