Castles in Hérault

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

There are numerous castles in the Hérault départment of France. Most are little more than ruins and many are barely discernible. Castles or their remains may be found at the following locations among others:

  • Autignac: The village retains vestiges of an ancient castle.
  • Bélarga: The Château de Bélarga probably dates from the 14th century. It was remodelled in the 15th century and the north wing from this period survives. During the first half of the 17th century a new castle was built to the north of the first. The original castle is mostly constructed from limestone. It is privately owned.
  • Brissac: The site was originally a Roman villa, but the castle dates from the 11th century. The North tower was added in the 12th century, with more additions later. During the 1960s it was bought by a visiting American businessman and his French wife. Being told it was going to be destroyed for a film they took pity and he spent the next nine years rebuilding it as sympathetically as possible. It is still privately owned. (43°52′30″N 3°42′7″E / 43.87500°N 3.70194°E / 43.87500; 3.70194)
Castelnau de Guers
  • Cruzy: Narrow village streets lead to a feudal castle from the 12th century, formerly the property of the Viscounts of Narbonne.
Dio castle
  • Dio: Mentioned from 533. The castle was built in the 12th century. A residence was added in the first half of the 17th century though it is not clear whether this was for Jean de l'Hom, treasurer of France, who owned the castle from 1602, or for Pierre de Fleury who owned it from 1630. The castle is constructed from sandstone. Since 1930, it has been listed as a monument historique by the French Ministry of Culture. (43°40′2″N 3°12′40″E / 43.66722°N 3.21111°E / 43.66722; 3.21111)
Margon
  • Margon: In the centre of Margon, this castle dates from the 15th century with additions and alterations from the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries. It consists of a courtyard with surrounding walls. Staircases lead to an enclosed park and terrasses (open to the public). The castle is inhabited but not, itself, open to visitors. It was listed as a monument historique by the Ministry of Culture in 1937. (43°29′11″N 3°18′22″E / 43.48639°N 3.30611°E / 43.48639; 3.30611)
  • Neffiès: The town is built in circular form around the castle.
  • Pégairolles-de-l'Escalette: 12th-century castle, altered in the 17th century. Closed to the public.It was listed as a monument historique by the Ministry of Culture in 1984.
  • Puissalicon: Restored castle from the fourth quarter of the 13th century. Listed as a monument historique in 1947 and protected since 1988.
  • Puisserguier: Remains of castle and walls from the 12th century.
  • Thézan-lès-Béziers: Like many other villages in the region, Thézan is built around a hilltop surmounted with a medieval castle (the Château d'Aspiran de Ravanès) having a 14th-century façade, a large round tower from the 17th century and a gate bearing the date 1674.

See also

List of castles in France

External links

French Ministry of Culture
The French Ministry of Culture website has database entries in French, many with photos, on the following castles in Hérault:

Agel · Aumelas · Bélarga · Castelnau de Guers · Clermont-l'Hérault · Dio · Laurens · Margon · Malavieille ·
Marsillargues · Pégairolles-de-l'Escalette · Pézènes-les-Mines · Puissalicon · Vendres

Other sites

Sources

  • Faugères & Saint-Chinian en Terres d'Orb (booklet) (2004) Edition 2004
  • Discovering the Historic and Remarkable sites of the Pays d'Agde Region (leaflet) Communauté de Communes des Pays d'Agde (undated)
  • Green Guide: Languedoc, Roussillon, Tarn Gorges (1998) Michelin ISBN 2-06-136602-3
  • French Ministry of Culture at www.culture.gouv.fr
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