Château de Pézenas
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The site of the Château de Pézenas, a medieval castle in the French town of Pézenas, in the département of l'Hérault, is currently being refurbished with a view to opening to the public.
A castle is first mentioned on the site, a butte just outside and dominating the town, around 990. The later castle was originally built by the Duc de Montmorency, François de Montmorency in 1575 on the domain of Granges des Près. It had seven towers, one of which was used as a chapel. The river, la Peyne, flowed along its walls.
During the 17th century, Cardinal Richelieu, sworn enemy of the Duc de Montmorency Henri II, had promised to abolish the States of the Languedoc, fearing they were too strong and independent of the kingdom of Louis XIII. Following Henri's revolt at the head of the Languedoc States, in 1632 Richelieu ordered the castle to be destroyed. The inhabitants of Pézenas, so proud of their castle, were humiliated to have to demolish it themselves. Louis XIII gave the materials from the castle, as well as the site, to the Pézenas consuls. The bell was moved to the top of the bell tower at the Collégiale Saint-Jean church. (The tower later collapsed, in 1733, and had to be rebuilt.)
In 1660, Louis XIV, passing through the town, remarked "En vérité, Messieurs, c'est grand dommage d'avoir fait démolir cette importante place." ("In truth, Sirs, it is a great pity to have demolished this important place.")
[edit] Source
- Bonnefont, Marie Elise Pézenas: le temps d'une balade pp 6-7 and 52-53, (Bonnefont, 2003) ISBN 2-9520940-0-4
