In the Middle Ages, the castle of Peyrelade, built between the XIIth and the XVIth centuries, was one of the most powerful fortresses of Rouergue thanks to the position of its natural rock-dungeon which allowed it to control the valley of the Tarn.
Its influence extends to the limits of Sévéragais, Languedoc and Gévaudan.
It remained, since the beginning, in the hands of nobles of the region.
Between the 12th and 16th centuries, after many conflicts, several lords succeeded one another and shared the castle as a "coseigneurie", a sort of collocation!
Then the Hundred Years' War and the Wars of Religion damaged the fortifications of the castle until its dismantling, ordered by Richelieu in 1633.
The abandoned fortress was left to the looting and the brigands who were rampant.
The villagers took refuge at the foot of the rock, in the village built in the shelter of the north wind.
Imagine that all the displacements are done then with mules!
Many of the stones of the castle were used to build the houses of the villages below.
The castle restored by the commune of Rivière-sur-Tarn
In 1977, the commune of Rivière-sur-Tarn took the incredible gamble of reviving these ruins, which had been invaded by brambles and vegetation.
Clean-up, excavation and restoration projects have been carried out for more than 30 years, under the impetus of volunteers and enthusiasts with the support of the public authorities.
These programs continue today, little by little, stone by stone!
Open to the public since 1996, the castle welcomes visitors every year from May to September.
Today, the visit allows to discover the history of the site, its atypical architecture, as well as the numerous restoration and excavation works undertaken for more than 30 years. The visit ends with the ascent on the rock which offers a spectacular panorama on the sector of the valley and the Gorges of Tarn.
Scenographic tour with models, interpretation tables and video and many animations
Castle of Peyrelade
Peyrelade
12640 Rivière-sur-Tarn
Tel : 05 65 62 21 34
contact@chateaudepeyrelade.com
https://www.seigneurs-du-rouergue.fr/chateaux/chateau-de-peyrelade/
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