Siaugues-Sainte-Marie

Siaugues is overlooked by the ruined towers of a castle established in the 13th century by Saint Louis IX to repel Angevin forces based to the west on the opposite side of the River Allier.

The castle changed hands several times, coming into the possession of the La Fayette family in c.1400 under Gilbert Motier de La Fayette. It remained in the family until the French Revolution when it was taken by the commune and used as a quarry. The castle then passed into private ownership and some preservation work has begun.

The village is also known, more recently, as the country home of French poet Maurice Fombeure, one of a school of post-war writers who exalted the French countryside. Very active in the literary circles of Paris, he was awarded the Grand Award for Poetry from the City of Paris in 1958 and his works continue to be studied in France.

Although not born in the area he married Carmen Javaugues, a girl from Siaugues and a published poet in her own right, and it was through her family that he developed his strong and lasting sense of connection to Siaugues and to the Auvergne.

Writing of Siaugues, he said;

Siaugues-Saint Romain

Au bruit des fontaines
Siaugues-Saint Romain
Vous prend par la main

Ce n’est qu’un village
Ouvert sous les cieux
Village sans âge
Où l’on est heureux.


Translated:
Siaugues St. Romain
Of the sound of fountains
Siaugues St. Romain
Takes you by the hand

This is a village
Open to the heavens
A village without age

Where one is well.

The Allier River and the Sainte-Marie-des-Chazes chapel (13th century)

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• Commune website