Château-Dauphin is a medieval castle in Pontgibaud, Puy-de-Dôme, built in the 12th century by Robert I, Count of Auvergne, who bore a dolphin (dauphin) on his coat of arms. The castle dominates the valley of the Sioule River and strategically positioned on a lava flow of Como puy. In the 15th century, Gilbert III Motier de La Fayette strengthened the defences and enlarged the keep. The castle was officially classified in 1995, protecting the fortress, six towers, common lands, grounds, well, and fountain. It includes a restored 16th-century kitchen garden and remains inhabited by the Counts of Pontgibaud family since 1756. A museum dedicated to silver mining in the canton documents the region's 19th-century industrial heritage.
