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Location
38 miles from Montpellier and 7 from a small town with all amenities.
The castle is set in unspoilt countryside dominating the Cévennes mountains.
Description
This castle, in its dominant position in the centre of approx.1.75 acres of parklands, is accessed via a wide entrance gate.
It is preceded by a 19th century caretaker’s cottage (approx. 1,076 sq ft).
The architecture of the castle was enriched on a regular basis from the 9th to the 17th century. The wide fenestration of less aggressive centuries stands out between the string courses on the medieval facade. The round towers, topped with tiles softening the corners of the building, compete with the austere battlements that crown the castle.
Amazing watch turrets have also been adapted to their new decorative function with the base of said turrets sculpted to form portraits of the husband and wife that sponsored this transformation in the 17th century.
The gate opens into a vast courtyard of honour protected by battlemented walls adjoining the building and on which traces of the defensive function of the wall-walks are still to be seen.
Behind these walls hide elegant Renaissance-style features. The mullioned windows are next to some interesting openings from the early 17th century, crowned by a broken pediment supported by pilasters with ionic capitals. At the back of this courtyard, two doors face one another, opposites in both era and function.
Dominating the arched medieval opening, a 17th century monumental stone bossed door, topped by a broken pediment featuring a scroll bearing a coat-of-arms of mythical motifs, opens on to the main stairway.
Whereas the oldest door leads to the vast 11th and 12th century vaulted rooms. The first still has some of the features contributing to its service function. Thus, we find ovens for making bread (with a stone door) and cakes preserved here. Five other similarly vaulted rooms, including a chapel that is currently still consecrated, comprise the layout of this section of the castle.
The main stairway gives access to the “upstairs” world of the masters. This halfpace stairway, constructed within the carcass, was rebuilt during recent major restoration works. Thus, the Renaissance-style function of this level was re-established. This floor, used for receiving and entertaining, includes vast rooms for such purposes in which monumental fireplaces from different eras have been rebuilt.
Consequently, the tall conical fireplace (copy of the fireplace from the courtroom in the Château of Vincennes), typical of the 11th and 12th centuries contrasts with that of the dining room, the hood of which with its rectangular profile is typical of construction in the 13th and 14th centuries. The mantel rests on the strong springers required to support the hood and the flue. The fireplaces of a later style (16th century) in the lounge and vast reception room (approx. 861 sq ft) feature scrolls framing low and high relief coats-of-arms under large engaged columns.
Adjoining the vast reception room is a circular ladies sitting room with a vaulted ceiling. Part of this floor has been converted into a flat (kitchen, bathroom, library, dining room), thus providing a certain comfort.
All of the rooms on this floor are illuminated via large mullioned windows which have been restored and given back their tinted glass cross-bars.
The second floor has been split into two independent suites. One spans 1,722 sq ft, comprising five bedrooms, two bathrooms, a kitchen and a lounge. The other spans 1,184 sq ft, comprising two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a kitchen, a living room and access to a terrace overlooking the courtyard of honour.
The top floor, accessed via a narrow stone stairway, is quite simply the keep’s terrace (approx. 538 sq ft). It has a panoramic view over all the surrounding Cévennes countryside.
Our opinion
The castle displays the forms of its rich medieval past from its imperial heights. However, the delicacy and elegance of the late Renaissance-style ornamental repertory, signs of great prosperity, are hidden behind its haughty walls.
Despite having fallen into ruin, extensive restoration works have returned the castle to its former glory. Each of the most moving of features in this large residence has been highlighted and modern day comforts have been installed. This is undoubtedly one of the jewels in our heritage.
Price
Contact us
Our fees are included in the stated sale price. Reference
2027WK
Representative
Wilfried Kathemann
Telephone
06 11 13 73 05
contact
NB: The above information is not only the result of our visit to the property; it is also based on information provided by the current owner. It is by no means comprehensive or strictly accurate especially where surface areas and construction dates are concerned. We cannot, therefore, be held liable for any misrepresentation.
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