CASTLES, CASTLES, MANSIONS, RUINS, MANSIONS, RUINS, MONUMENTSMONUMENTS

136! That was the number of castles listed in 1724 in Lozère by Father Ouvreleul.Even though many have since been destroyed and fallen into ruins through the years, Gévaudan still boasts of some beautiful citadels, vestiges of 8 baronnies of yesteryear, namely: Randon, Tournel, Peyre, Apcher, Mercoeur, Canilhac, Cénaret and Florac.

TOURNEL CASTLETOURNEL CASTLE

. The keep, corner towers, chapel and surrounding

walls still stand today. The shale is covered in lichen, resulting in a curious reddish-brown

colour rarely seen on buildings from this era.

A walk around the site takes you back to the warring days of the Middle Ages.

This imposing fortress, built by the Barons of Tournel, once stood guard over the valley from its site on a rocky ridge, which now has a road tunnel running through it. The ruins are among the most impressive in the Lozère, which gives an idea of the scale of this 12th century castle

CHATEAU OF SAINT CHATEAU OF SAINT ALBANALBAN

It has a rich and varied architecture with facades from the 13th and 15th centuries.

There is also a Renaissance courtyard which dates from the 17th century.

An absolute jewel of Saint Alban, which is situtaed on the historic Santiago de Compostella

pilgrims trail.

COUGOUSSAC CASTLECOUGOUSSAC CASTLE

In 1587 the fortress becomes the property of the Retz de Bressolles family due to the marriage between Marie Calvet de Fontanilles, a

descendent of the survivors, and Urbain de Retz de Bressoles. It was during this period that the castle is restored to its present state.

Cougoussac is now a beautifully restored residence in true XVI and XVIII century style due to work carried out by its present owners, the Rousset

family.

The history of this site goes back to the XIII century, but it was only in

the XV century that it became a real castle.

Towards the end of the XVI century François Clavet de Fontanilles and

part of his family who were converted to protestantism were

massacred by the Catholic "Reconquête (reconquer) army.

MIRAL MIRAL CASTLECASTLE

From the XIV to XVI centuries, the Lords of Malbosc-Miral constructed their residence and outbuildings around the keep.

Miral Château overlooks the confluent of the

Runes and Tarn rivers. Its donjon was built towards

the end of the XIII century and its ramparts defended access to the

upper Tarn valley.

VILLARET TOWERVILLARET TOWER

The Tower was rebuilt at the end of XVI century, after being destroyed during the Catholic and Protestant rebellions. It is

recorded on the French National Historic Monuments supplementary register.

The orgin of this monument stems from two important Masters of the Saint-Jean-of-Jerusalem Hospital

namely, Guillaume and Foulques de Villaret.

The latter was part of the conquest of the island of Rhodes in 1309.

Since its setting up from 1992 to 1993,the Villaret organises Contemporary Art exhibitions. An artists' workshop is also on

the site as well as an open-air theatre to be found in the centre of the forest of the Vallon du Villaret Discovery Park.

BAUME MANSIONBAUME MANSIONHalfway between Marvejols and Aumont-

Aubrac stands the Château de la Baume,an elegant mansion that was built around the thick

granite walls of the former stronghold of the Lords of Peyre who ruled the Gévaudan region. The chateau was transformed in the early 17th century and extensively decorated in the 18th century by artists from Paris and Montpellier. The result is contrasting rustic and exuberant

styles. Visitors will see a grand staircase, ornate chests, fireplaces, suits of armor and

tapestries by Felletin, as well as Louis XIII and Louis XIV galleries.

Its gold and gilt paneling shows off the lavish and opulent style that Louis XIV was so famous

for hence its nickname of "the Versailles of Lozère".

FLORAC MANSIONFLORAC MANSION

The Mansion of Florac nestles beneath the ledges of Rochefort and is open to the public all year round.

It stands high on a calcareous tufa peak beside the small Vibron river.

The exact date of its construction unknown, but it was a key element in the defense of Florac during the Wars

of Religion.

CHATEAU DE LUCCHATEAU DE LUC

The 17th century Château de Luc has a remarkable "opus spicatum"

or herringbone architecture.

It is located on the boundaries of the Gévaudan and the Vivarais regions and overlooks the river Allier valley and the Tanargue

mountain range.

This fortress was a strategic point on the Regordane trail which was

used by pilgrims travelling to Saint-Gilles in the Middle Ages.

THE APCHER TOWERTHE APCHER TOWER

Whilst in Prunière the outstanding 12th century church which is part of La Chaise-

Dieu Abbey is well worth the visit. Is is doted with a superb belfry wall with three

apertures and is one of the oldest examples of the "saintongeois" style in France.

The ruins of Apcher castle and donjon and the Chapel in

the village of Prunière the are all that remain of this

medieval site.

A TERRITORY A TERRITORY ARCHITECTUREARCHITECTUREIdentity of a territory

architecture grows from the ground, fits in the landscape and testifies to the builder's

know-how of .

Architecture is varied just like its landscape : houses made of limestone from causses, massive granite farms of

Aubrac, and Margeride, small villages with narrow houses

and the straight streets of the Cevennes,

as many identities, make the architectural face of Lozere come to rise, including in its

contemporary creations.

A TERRITORY A TERRITORY ARCHITECTUREARCHITECTUREThe work of the stone and the roofing

stone, the cutlery, the gathering, silk... subtle balance between tradition and

creation, the trades of art whose know-how crossed the ages, take again vien

by causing new vocations today.

Lozere testifies some with a creative artisanal, which is not fixed in the

reproduction of objects of the past. Marriage of a past marked by a very

strong cultural identity, these productions related to natural materials, such as the stone, the ground, wood, is

carried out in the respect of the traditions, with the image of the roofers

and the stone masons, but also in a contemporary spirit

MODERN BUILDERSMODERN BUILDERSAlthough Lozere seems to be a country of traditions it is also turned of it towards the future and knew to carry out contemporary

works which respect its environment of exception.

Thermal station la Chaldette