When your name is Polignac, you come from far away. You can either descend from the Apollinaire Gallo-Roman family, from a Gaul Apollo known to have delivered oracles, as shown by the monumental stone mask discovered on the site of the fortress. Or, you can come from “podiacus”, “podianac”, meaning podium, and therefore carry the name of the place.
Polignac, a history almost as old as History. Lying in the heart of Auvergne, the proud and still intact fortress has witnessed the rise of France, from Versailles, Rome, the courts of Europe to the Paris salons. Thus, its high figures of brave conquerors either gifted with weapons or with their mind have offered their services to their kings and country. A “dynasty” of extraordinary destinies, of personalities one can only admire with, among them, a few important figures.

During the Xth century:
- Etienne, the heroic Viscount de Polignac, known as Taillefer, appointed bishop of Clermont,
During the XIIth century:
- Armand VII, Viscount de Polignac, who assisted Philippe Le Bel in the war he lead against the English and who, due to the authority he had on the Velay, gave his family the opportunity to be known under the famous title of “mountain kings”.
During the XIIIth and XIVth century:
- Armand IX and Armand X, known for their legendary courage. The last of the two had a true builder’s spirit and was the creator of the now emblematic dungeon.
During the XVth and XVIth century:
- the unbroken Armand dynasty that included Armand XVI who had the honour to welcome to the fortress King Francis I and to distinguish himself in many campaigns at the king and Dauphin’s side.
During the XVIIth and XVIIIth century:
- Melchior, Cardinal de Polignac, ambassador of King Louis XIV in Rome and man of many talents: diplomacy, arts, antique collections, art of entertaining,
- Yolande de Polastron, Duchess de Polignac, governess to the Children of France, friend
of Marie-Antoinette and talented musician.
During the XIXth and XXth century:
- Jules, Duke and 1st Prince de Polignac, Minister of Foreign Affairs, President of Charles X‘s Ministers Council, main instigator of the Alger expedition.
- Prince and Princess Edmond de Polignac, the first was a composer and man of great spirit, the second, a passionate woman and great patron of the arts, “discoverer” of the greatest musicians of her time.
- Princess Armande de Polignac, woman composer ahead of her time and first female conductor.
- Melchior, Marquis de Polignac, brilliant musician and France’s first great sports sponsor.
- Count Pierre de Polignac, H.S.H Prince Pierre de Monaco, protector of the arts and creator of great prizes rewarding music, arts and literature.
- Princess Henri de Polignac, vice-president of the association for the construction of the Douaumont ossuary.
- Count and Countess Jean de Polignac, an infinitely talented and attractive couple; he was a music and sports passionate, she, named Marie-Blanche and daughter of the designer Jeanne Lanvin, was a great pianist with an unforgettable voice and the muse of all the interwar period artists.
- Prince Guy de Polignac, Bailiff President of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, Founder of the Malta-France Order and true contemporary Humanitarian knight, relentlessly devoted to the poor.
- Prince Louis de Polignac, creator of the Polignac-Ker-Jean Foundation and Founder of the 7 Chapels Festival, President of the Société des Bains de Mer de Monaco and godfather
of H.S.H Prince Albert III de Monaco.

Besides the name, there is a common point that lies between these different figures that years and sometimes centuries have separated.