The Château de Val in Lanobre, located in the Cantal region of France, is a 15th-century fortress that once faced the threat of being submerged by an artificial lake. This lake was created by the construction of the Bort-les-Orgues dam on the Dordogne River between 1942 and 1952. To make way for the lake, the village of Lanobre and other surrounding areas were evacuated, including the Château de Val. The d'Arcy family, who owned the castle, were forced to leave in 1946, believing their home would be flooded. However, the lake's final depth was reduced due to poor-quality rock on one side of the river, leaving the castle on a peninsula at the edge of the lake instead of being fully submerged. After the expropriation, the castle was left without a guardian or security measures. Between 1946 and 1951, it became a target for looters, as anyone could enter the building freely. A Countess d'Arcy later returned to the site and cut the Cordoue leather that lined the salon, unable to take it intact. The castle had become a property of EDF, the French electricity company, and was of no interest to anyone, leading to its abandonment and subsequent looting. In 1951, the Bort-les-Orgues initiative syndicate, a local organization responsible for managing the dam and its surrounding area, installed a guard to protect the site. In 1953, EDF sold the castle for a symbolic franc to the city of Bort-les-Orgues, allowing for its gradual restoration. The commune of Val, which had initially been approached, refused to take ownership, not foreseeing the site's future as a tourist attraction. The castle has since become a classified monument and is now maintained by the city of Bort-les-Orgues. The castle has also been transformed into a cultural and historical site. EDF agreed to the construction of a pier to allow access to the castle when the lake level rises. Over the years, the initiative syndicate and the municipality have worked to restore the building's roofs, masonry, and grand staircase. Since the 1950s, the castle has hosted contemporary art exhibitions, featuring artists such as Bernard Buffet and Eugène Baboulène. Its silhouette, reflected in the lake's waters, has also been used as a film set, most notably for Le Capitan in 1960. The artificial lake surrounding the castle is one of the largest in France, covering 1,100 hectares and stretching 18 kilometers. Today, the Château de Val is open to the public from February to November, with a modest entrance fee for visitors.