Situated on a rocky spur, the medieval Château de Brousse, classified as a historical monument since 20 March 1943, is a real feudal fortress.
First mentioned in 935, after having belonged to the Counts of Rouergue, the Counts of Toulouse and then those of Rodez, it became the property of the Arpajon family, a powerful family of French nobility from 1204 to 1700.
A family some members of which distinguished themselves in the History of France but others in tragedies such as that of the young Hélène de Castelnau, captive at the age of 6 years of the lord Jean d'Arpajon and this for three long years.
Today it is managed by the commune.
From an architectural and historical point of view, the medieval castle is very interesting for its keep, its succession of towers integrated into the ramparts surmounted by machicolations and pierced by numerous loopholes.
Among the towers, we must mention those of the Prisoner, Princess, Picardy, of which only the foundations remain but which was the highest in Rouergue (45 m) and the open throat tower.
The ensemble protects the lords' dwelling, the well, the cistern and the bread oven.
The castle houses small thematic exhibitions.
Numerous temporary exhibitions of paintings and photos take place every year. Some works are there all year round, such as the menhir statue of Crays, whose origins go back to prehistory, or sculptures on the theme of the almond tree or "Sylvistructures", a gift from Pierre Leron-Lesur...
In the village you can also visit the Church of Saint-Jacques le majeur from the 15th century, a few kilometres away the oratory of Saint-Martin and the Church of Saint-Cyrice which offers a magnificent panoramic view of the Tarn.
Medieval castle
Brousse le Château
Phone : 05 65 99 45 40
https://www.brousselechateau.net/
