Castles in Hérault
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:
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 Pézènes-les-Mines
Other sites
Hérault
Hérault is a department in the south of France named after the Hérault river.-History:Hérault is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on 4 March 1790...
départment of France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan 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:
- AgelAgelAgel is a commune in the Hérault department in the Languedoc-Roussillon region in southern France.-Population:-References:*...
: Medieval builders in the 12th century raised a castle whose location became the centre of the village. The castle controlled strategic routes. The present château comprises a central fortified tower, four other towers (two with a spiral staircase) and a pigeon loft, and is run as a hotel. It was listed as a monument historiqueMonument historiqueA monument historique is a National Heritage Site of France. It also refers to a state procedure in France by which national heritage protection is extended to a building or a specific part of a building, a collection of buildings, or gardens, bridges, and other structures, because of their...
by the French Ministry of Culture in 1979. (43°20′17"N 2°51′12"E)
- Aigues-VivesAigues-Vives, HéraultAigues-Vives is a commune in the Hérault department in the Languedoc-Roussillon region in southern France.-Population:-References:*...
- AumelasAumelasAumelas is a commune in the Hérault department in southern France.-Population:-References:*...
: The castle was built from limestone during the late 11th and early 12th centuries and includes the chapel, ditch and enceinteEnceinteEnceinte , is a French term used technically in fortification for the inner ring of fortifications surrounding a town or a concentric castle....
. The existence of the Saint-Sauveur chapel is documented from 1114. The castle was dismantled by royal troops in 1622. Since 1989, it has been listed as a monument historique. (43°35′52"N 3°36′32"E)
- AutignacAutignacAutignac is a commune in the Hérault department in southern France.-Population:-References:*...
: The village retains vestiges of an ancient castle.
- BélargaBélargaBélarga is a commune in the Hérault department in the Languedoc-Roussillon region in southern France.-Population:-References:*...
: The castle 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.
- BrissacBrissacBrissac is a commune in the Hérault department in southern France.-Population:-Sights:*Castle , rebuilt in the early 16th century.*Parish church of Saint-Nazaire et Saint-Celse *Church of Notre-Dame du Suc...
: 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)
- CabrerollesCabrerollesCabrerolles is a commune in the Hérault department in southern France.-Population:-References:*...
: Village sited on an important route. The presence of a castle confirms the vital importance of this section of the high country. (43°32′50"N 3°7′29"E)
- CabrièresCabrières, HéraultCabrières is a commune in the Hérault department in southern France.-Population:-References:*...
: The castle was mentioned in Gregory of ToursGregory of ToursSaint Gregory of Tours was a Gallo-Roman historian and Bishop of Tours, which made him a leading prelate of Gaul. He was born Georgius Florentius, later adding the name Gregorius in honour of his maternal great-grandfather...
' Historia Francorum ("History of the FranksFranksThe Franks were a confederation of Germanic tribes first attested in the third century AD as living north and east of the Lower Rhine River. From the third to fifth centuries some Franks raided Roman territory while other Franks joined the Roman troops in Gaul. Only the Salian Franks formed a...
"). The old village was built at the foot of the castle. The site was never unoccupied until ThéodebertTheudebert ITheudebert I was the Merovingian king of Austrasia from 533 to his death in 548. He was the son of Theuderic I and the father of Theudebald....
, future king of AustrasiaAustrasiaAustrasia formed the northeastern portion of the Kingdom of the Merovingian Franks, comprising parts of the territory of present-day eastern France, western Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands. Metz served as its capital, although some Austrasian kings ruled from Rheims, Trier, and...
left the castle to crown himself, accompanied by Deoteria, Countess of Cabrières. According to legend, before leaving for LorraineLotharingiaLotharingia was a region in northwest Europe, comprising the Low Countries, the western Rhineland, the lands today on the border between France and Germany, and what is now western Switzerland. It was born of the tripartite division in 855, of the kingdom of Middle Francia, itself formed of the...
, the future queen took care to pack in her baggage some local vine cuttings. These found the hillsides of MoselleMoselleMoselle is a department in the east of France named after the river Moselle.- History :Moselle is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on March 4, 1790...
to their liking and produced a wine in which the sun of Cabrières shone. (43°34′8"N 3°20′58"E)
- Castelnau-de-GuersCastelnau-de-GuersCastelnau-de-Guers is a commune in the Hérault department in southern France.-Population:-References:*...
: This medieval village perched on rocky outcrop near Pézenas, takes its name from the Barons of Guers, who reigned at the Castelnau Castle until the 17th century. The feudal castle was first mentioned in 1069. Today, there remain the crenellated façade, a RomanesqueRomanesque architectureRomanesque architecture is an architectural style of Medieval Europe characterised by semi-circular arches. There is no consensus for the beginning date of the Romanesque architecture, with proposals ranging from the 6th to the 10th century. It developed in the 12th century into the Gothic style,...
doorway topped by a machicolationMachicolationA machicolation is a floor opening between the supporting corbels of a battlement, through which stones, or other objects, could be dropped on attackers at the base of a defensive wall. The design was developed in the Middle Ages when the Norman crusaders returned. A machicolated battlement...
, curtain wallsCurtain wall (fortification)A curtain wall is a defensive wall between two bastions of a castle or fortress.In earlier designs of castle the curtain walls were often built to a considerable height and were fronted by a ditch or moat to make assault difficult....
, the structure of the drawbridge and the Romanesque chapel. There is a magnificent panorama over the plain from the terrace. The site of the castle was listed as a monument historique in 2003. It is not open to the public. (43°26′7"N 3°26′17"E)
- CébazanCébazanCébazan is a commune in the Hérault department in southern France....
: Château de Saint-Bauléry (43°24′25"N 3°0′16"E)
- Clermont-l'HéraultClermont-l'HéraultClermont-l'Hérault is a commune in the Hérault department in southern France.It lies 30 minutes from Montpellier, from the sea.-Sights:The town is built on the slope of a hill which is crowned by an ancient castle and skirted by the Rhonel, a tributary of the Lergue...
: Remains of Château des GuilhemChâteau des GuilhemThe Château des Guilhem is a medieval castle in the town of Clermont-l'Hérault in the Hérault département of France.Built for the Guilhems, lords of Clermont-l’Hérault, at the end of the 11th and beginning of the 12th centuries, the castle stands on Puech Castel hill, overlooking the town and...
. Listed as a monument historique in 1927. (43°37′47"N 3°25′42"E)
- CreissanCreissanCreissan is a commune in the Hérault department in southern France....
: Castle constructed in the 10th century; the remains are in poor condition. (43°22′28"N 3°0′35"E)
- CruzyCruzyCruzy is also a commune in the Hérault department in southern France....
: Narrow village streets lead to a feudal castle from the 12th century, formerly the property of the Viscounts of NarbonneNarbonneNarbonne is a commune in southern France in the Languedoc-Roussillon region. It lies from Paris in the Aude department, of which it is a sub-prefecture. Once a prosperous port, it is now located about from the shores of the Mediterranean Sea...
.
- DioDio-et-ValquièresDio-et-Valquières is a commune in the Hérault department in southern France.-See also:*Communes of the Hérault department...
: 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)
- FaugèresFaugères, HéraultFaugères is a commune in the Hérault department in southern France.The village is particularly well known for the quality of the appellation of wines, Faugères AOC, that it lends its names to....
: Medieval castle, 12th century.
- FontèsFontèsFontès is a commune in the Hérault department in southern France....
: The ruins of the Château de Mazers are approximately 1 km west of Fontès, in woods just off the Neffiès road. They consist of three pieces of wall, up to 20 feet high, and remains of a circular retaining wall on a mound. (43°32′16"N 3°21′54"E)
- FosFos, HéraultFos is a commune in the Hérault department in southern France.-See also:*Communes of the Hérault department...
: The castle was built under the reign of Francis IFrancis I of FranceFrancis I was King of France from 1515 until his death. During his reign, huge cultural changes took place in France and he has been called France's original Renaissance monarch...
. However, it is said that, well before then, CharlemagneCharlemagneCharlemagne was King of the Franks from 768 and Emperor of the Romans from 800 to his death in 814. He expanded the Frankish kingdom into an empire that incorporated much of Western and Central Europe. During his reign, he conquered Italy and was crowned by Pope Leo III on 25 December 800...
fought the Saracens here. (43°33′57"N 3°14′46"E)
- GangesGanges, HéraultGanges is a commune in the Hérault département in Languedoc-Roussillon in southern France.-Location:Ganges is situated at the confuence of the Hérault and Rieutord rivers.-History:...
: Only ruins remain of the Château de GangesChâteau de GangesThe Château de Ganges was a castle in the commune of Ganges in the Hérault département of France. Only ruins remain.-History:The castle was the scene of a murder in the 17th century. The beautiful Dianne de Roussan was killed by her husband's brothers, who wanted her large fortune. They were caught...
. (43°56′06"N 3°42′33"E)
- LaurensLaurens, HéraultLaurens is a commune in the Hérault département in Languedoc-Roussillon in southern France.-See also:*Communes of the Hérault department...
: Originally the site of a Roman villa and home for centurions. In the 12th century, the Knights TemplarKnights TemplarThe Poor Fellow-Soldiers of Christ and of the Temple of Solomon , commonly known as the Knights Templar, the Order of the Temple or simply as Templars, were among the most famous of the Western Christian military orders...
established the castle as a commandery. Surrounded by its Middle Ages walls, it is known as le petit Carcassonne (little CarcassonneCarcassonneCarcassonne is a fortified French town in the Aude department, of which it is the prefecture, in the former province of Languedoc.It is divided into the fortified Cité de Carcassonne and the more expansive lower city, the ville basse. Carcassone was founded by the Visigoths in the fifth century,...
). Modified in the 16th century, it was restored and remodelled in the 19th by Viollet-le-Duc. Listed as a monument historique in 1923, the site is privately owned and run as a hotel and the centre of a vineyard of 1.1 km² (270 acres) producing 4,200,000 litres a year. ( Website) (43°30′15"N 3°11′41"E)
- Malavieille: Ruins in a poor state of preservation located in the commune of MérifonsMérifonsMérifons is a commune in the Hérault department in southern France....
, 8 miles (13 km) west of Clermont-l'HéraultClermont-l'HéraultClermont-l'Hérault is a commune in the Hérault department in southern France.It lies 30 minutes from Montpellier, from the sea.-Sights:The town is built on the slope of a hill which is crowned by an ancient castle and skirted by the Rhonel, a tributary of the Lergue...
. Recorded as a "castrum" in 1098, the present castle dates from the 12th and 13th centuries. In 1223, Amalric de Narbonne gave the castle to the bishops of Lodève. It was already abandoned by the 17th century. (43°38′9"N 3°15′58"E)
- MargonMargon, HéraultMargon is a commune in the Hérault department in southern France.-See also:*Communes of the Hérault department...
: 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)
- MarsillarguesMarsillarguesMarsillargues is a commune in the Hérault department in southern France.The population of the city is 6700 inhabitants. Its inhabitants are called Marsillarguois.-Geography:...
: Castle built by Guillaume de NogaretGuillaume de NogaretGuillaume de Nogaret or William of Nogaret was councillor and keeper of the seal to Philip IV of France.- Early life :...
in 1305, with additions from the 16th and 17th centuries. The castle has been owned by the municipality of Marsillargues since 1948. It was listed as a monument historique by the Ministry of Culture in 1995. (43°39′55"N 4°10′41"E)
- MontouliersMontouliersMontouliers is a commune in the Hérault department in Languedoc-Roussillon in southern France....
- Mourcairol: Ruined Middle Ages castle and fortifications in the Les AiresLes AiresLes Aires is a commune in the Hérault department in the Languedoc-Roussillon region in southern France.-Population:-References:*...
commune, a few miles south of Lamalou-les-BainsLamalou-les-BainsLamalou-les-Bains is a commune in the Hérault département in Languedoc-Roussillon in southern France.Its inhabitants are called Lamalousiens.-Geography:Lamalou-les-Bains is located 53½ miles west of Montpellier in the Orb valley of the southern Cévennes...
. The hilltop location provides extensive views of the region. The only complete part of the castle is the St Michel chapel. Restoration work is being carried out. (43°32′5"N 3°19′52"E)
- NeffièsNeffièsNeffiès is a commune in the Hérault department in Languedoc-Roussillon in southern France.-References:Based on the French Wikipedia....
: The town is built in circular form around the castle.
- PailhèsPailhès, HéraultPailhès is a commune in the Hérault department in Languedoc-Roussillon in southern France.-References:Based on the French Wikipedia....
- PézenasPézenasPézenas is a commune in the Hérault département in Languedoc-Roussillon, southern France. At the 1999 census, its population was 7443.-Name:...
: Destroyed 1632. See Château de PézenasChâteau de PézenasThe 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....
- Pézènes-les-MinesPézènes-les-MinesPézènes-les-Mines is a commune in the Hérault department in Languedoc-Roussillon in southern France.On the edge of the village is a feudal castle, dominating the site from a rocky ridge. It was listed as a Monument historique in 1981.-References:...
: The feudal castle is on the edge of the village, dominating the site from a rocky ridge. It was listed as a monument historique in 1981. (43°35′20"N 3°15′8"E)
- PuisserguierPuisserguierPuisserguier is a commune in the Hérault department in Languedoc-Roussillon in southern France....
: Remains of castle and walls from the 12th century.
- RoquesselsRoquesselsRoquessels is a commune in the Hérault department in Languedoc-Roussillon in southern France.Inhabitants of Roquessels are called Roquesselois-Monuments:...
: The Château de RoquesselsChâteau de RoquesselsThe Château de Roquessels is a ruined castle in the commune of Roquessels in the Hérault département of France.The Château de Roquessels was built in the 10th century. It was a dependency of the convent of Cassans, which collected tithes from the baron of Margon...
is now ruined, though the chapel remains. (43°33′9"N 3°13′24"E)
- Thézan-lès-BéziersThézan-lès-BéziersThézan-lès-Béziers is a commune in the Hérault department in Languedoc-Roussillon in southern France.-See also:*Communes of the Hérault department...
: 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.
External links
French Ministry of CultureThe 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 Pézènes-les-Mines
Other sites
- Château d’Agel
- Château Grézan (Laurens) with link to
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