Châteauneuf-de-Randon in Lozère

The village is first mentioned in historical records in 1227 under the name "Castrum Novum". At the time, it was a crucial stronghold controlled by the powerful Randon family. In the 14th century, the village was famously besieged by Bertrand Du Guesclin, who successfully reclaimed it from the English during the Hundred Years' War.

By the 16th century, Châteauneuf-de-Randon had grown into an important town with a population exceeding 1,000 inhabitants, thriving as a prosperous commercial and artisanal center.

In the 18th century, however, the town experienced a steady decline due to growing competition from other expanding towns in the region, leading to a decrease in both population and economic activity. Situated on the rugged Margeride plateau, the commune today numbers around 800 inhabitants. Châteauneuf-de-Randon is renowned for its remarkable historical heritage, particularly its 14th-century medieval castle—classified as a historical monument—and its beautifully preserved 12th-century Romanesque church. The commune is also ideally located near major tourist destinations, such as Lake Charpal and the sprawling Margeride mountains. It remains a destination of choice for those seeking tranquility, the raw beauty of natural landscapes, and a deep connection to medieval history.

Châteauneuf-de-Randon is entirely surrounded by mountains, including the majestic Mont Lozère, the highest peak in the Massif Central. The village lies within a designated natural zone of ecological, faunal, and floral interest (ZNIEFF), hosting a tremendous diversity of plant and animal life. The dense surrounding forests are dominated by Scots pines, beeches, and majestic oaks, interspersed with sweeping meadows, wetlands, and dramatic cliffs. The local wildlife is equally rich: lucky hikers might spot deer, wild boars, foxes, roe deer, chamois, marmots, and a variety of birds of prey circling the skies.

The population of Châteauneuf-de-Randon has seen a gradual decline since the 19th century. While the municipality boasted 1,502 inhabitants in 1856, this number had fallen to 523 by 2021.

Perched on a rocky promontory overlooking the junction of the N88 and D998 roads, located 29 km north of Mende, this capital of the canton was once the ancient stronghold of the Barony of Randon. Following the Treaty of Brétigny in 1360, it was occupied by English forces during the 14th century.

The Constable of France, Bertrand Du Guesclin, laid siege to the fortress in late June 1380. However, he fell severely ill and died on July 13 without being able to witness the final recapture of the stronghold. In a legendary gesture of respect, the commander of the besieged English forces, Pierre de Galard, marched out and surrendered the keys of the city directly upon Du Guesclin's coffin, handing them to the Constable of Sancerre. Local tradition claims that Du Guesclin died after drinking overly cold water from the Glauze spring, located just west of the city.

In the beautiful main square, where highly important cattle fairs were once held, an imposing bronze statue sculpted by Hector Lemaire was erected in memory of the great Constable and officially inaugurated in 1894. To the northwest, the evocative ruins of an 11th-century tower belonging to the old castle—known locally as the "Tower of the English"—still stand watch. A bit further north, along the path leading down to the Chapeauroux river and the Rodier bridge, visitors can observe a massive granite rock perfectly balanced on its pedestal, locally named "the Wobbling Stone". At the crossroads in the hamlet of L'Habitarelle stands a granite mausoleum commemorating the passing of Du Guesclin. The monument features the Constable depicted lying in state, a faithful replica of the effigy found at Saint-Denis, where he was ultimately buried after a tumultuous posthumous journey.

This medieval city, built by the powerful Lords of Randon on the remnants of an ancient Gallo-Roman village, retains its fortress soul, of which the watchtower (the "Tower of the English") is the most iconic remnant.

In July 1380, Bertrand Du Guesclin, Grand Constable of the Armies of the Kingdom of France, died here after drinking from the "Glauze" fountain. Today, his bronze statue proudly watches over the village square, while down at "L'Habitarelle", a granite cenotaph has been erected for posterity in honor of this great warrior.

Born in La Motte-Broons, south of Dinan, Du Guesclin was a fierce fighter known for his legendarily rugged features. He rose to become Constable of France and Castile in 1370, marking himself as one of the towering figures of the Middle Ages. He fought valiantly in the War of the Breton Succession, supported Charles of Blois, and later served the King of France by fiercely combating the Great Companies (ruthless bands of looters) and the English invaders.

Following his death during the siege of Châteauneuf-de-Randon, his body underwent a complex and fragmented burial process, resulting in four separate tombs: one at the Basilica of Saint-Denis alongside the Kings of France, one in Le Puy-en-Velay, one in Clermont-Ferrand, and the final one in Dinan, which remains the only one perfectly intact today. The cenotaph housing his heart is located in the Church of Saint-Sauveur in Dinan.
In a more modern administrative shift, the neighboring municipality of Montbel was created in 1867 by detaching territory from both Châteauneuf-de-Randon and La Fage-Saint-Julien.

Back in 1380, since Auvergne and the Margeride province were heavily infested with brigands and English troops, local leaders pleaded for a royal army to be sent, insisting that Du Guesclin himself should command it.

Heeding their call, the Constable organized a strategic battle plan which involved isolating the rock of Carlat—a fortress in the Carladès region (in the current Cantal department) that effectively blocked any invader attempting to enter high Auvergne from Guyenne or Spain.

Today, nothing remains of that stronghold, which was entirely dismantled by order of King Henry IV. After executing his plan, Du Guesclin proceeded to Châteauneuf-de-Randon, then occupied by the English, determined to reclaim the village. It was during this fifteen-day siege and blockade that he drank from a cold water source at the meadow of Glauze, near the hamlet of Albuges, subsequently succumbing to what was likely cerebral congestion just as his men were reclaiming the city.

Anecdote or historical fact? Regardless, this illustrious character had a long-standing reputation for being "moody" and expressing a fierce temper. It is said that when he was young, his mother forced him to drink water from a silver cup during each of his temper tantrums.

Before his death, Du Guesclin had specifically requested to be buried in Brittany, near Dinan. One must imagine the immense logistical challenges of such a journey during the sweltering summer of 1380. His entrails were removed and left in Le Puy-en-Velay, in the present-day church of St. Laurent. However, due to the slow pace of the funeral procession and the oppressive heat, the initial embalming quickly proved insufficient.

To prevent further decomposition, the Constable's remains had to be boiled; his flesh was then buried in Montferrand in a small church called the Cordeliers (which was later destroyed by revolutionaries in 1793). The posthumous adventures were not yet over: upon arriving in Le Mans, the convoy was intercepted by a royal envoy demanding that the remains be transferred to the royal basilica of Saint-Denis.

His skeleton was thus handed over, leaving only his heart to finally arrive in Dinan. Thus ends the epic story of Du Guesclin's remains. He possesses three tombs and two effigies: one depicting him with a beard in Le Puy-en-Velay (a striking snapshot from the time that feels almost like a modern photograph), and the other, without a beard, at the Basilica of Saint-Denis near Paris.

Carts heavily laden with meager furnishings, armed men guarding them, and burning, ruined towns—this was the grim vision experienced by contemporaries during the final years of the Hundred Years' War. The French countryside was devastated by English raids, pillaged by the mercenaries of the Great Companies (who were left unpaid during truces), and ravaged by the "Écorcheurs" (flayers) who wreaked havoc from 1435 to 1444.

From the death of Charles IV in 1328 until the death of Charles VII in 1461 (by which point the English held only Calais in France), this brutal war spanned over a century, shaking France to its very core.

From 1337 to 1343: The English multiplied their attacks against provinces loyal to Philip VI.
1346: The army of the King of France was heavily defeated at Crécy.
1347: The city of Calais was forced to surrender to the English.
1345: The Black Death began to ravage France, and subsequently England.
1356: John II the Good, the successor to Philip VI, lost the battle of Poitiers and was taken prisoner.
1356 - 1358: The Dauphin (the future Charles V) faced a merchant revolt organized by Étienne Marcel.
1360: Peace was temporarily signed at Brétigny; the King of France was forced to cede numerous territories to the King of England.

The first four major fairs of Châteauneuf were officially created in 1542 by King Francis I of France: these were held on the Monday before Palm Sunday, July 26, August 21, and October 9. Châteauneuf-de-Randon served as a true "capital" for local farmers. Many livestock dealers traveled from Auvergne, Rouergue, Vivarais, and especially from Lower Languedoc. By the beginning of the 20th century, there were 16 fairs held throughout the year: on January 13 (to buy the pig for the year's preserves); the first Monday of February and February 19; the first Monday of March and March 19 (Saint Joseph's Day); the first Monday of April and April 19; the second Wednesday of May and the Wednesday before Saint John; July 26, August 20, September 22, October 9, the Wednesday before Saint Andrew in November, and the Wednesday before Christmas in December.

At the turn of the century, farmers would arrive the day before the fair to settle in. Inns, cafes, and private hosts buzzed with activity. Merchants would eat, drink, and sample robust traditional dishes like flègue and tripoux, all while heatedly discussing the prices they would propose the next morning. Come dawn, the village square was entirely packed with horned beasts, lined up tightly against each other, leaving barely any room for the inhabitants to squeeze past. Negotiations were loud, conducted in local dialect; voices rose, people got angry and walked away, only to return moments later to finalize the transaction with a firm slap on the farmer's right hand.

With a quick snip of the scissors, buyers would mark a letter or number into the hair on the animal's hindquarters, sealing the sale over a few drinks (canouns) at the local café. Gradually, as modernity took over, farmers began transporting their animals in car-pulled trailers, drastically shortening the duration of the fairs. Combined with the significant rural depopulation of Lozère, the number of livestock farmers dwindled, and these vibrant, bustling fairs eventually disappeared completely from the landscape of Châteauneuf.

In the late 19th century, the Town Hall of Châteauneuf proposed building a public fountain in the main square, as residents were previously forced to draw drinking water from a dirty well. Supported by the Municipal Council, the mayor wrote to the members of the Public Assistance commission on November 10, 1894, to formally request the project. The municipality decided to borrow the 67,000 francs needed for construction from the National Pension Fund for the Elderly, committing to amortize this considerable expense through a tax of 67 cents spread over 50 years. According to local elders, discussions over the fountain grew incredibly heated. Following local elections, the municipal council found itself split perfectly down the middle: 6 members for the right and 6 for the left.

It was therefore necessary to break the tie. Knowing his vote was decisive, the mayor chose to side with the supporters of the fountain (the left wing). Meanwhile, the right-wing faction circulated a fierce petition against the project. Finally, on September 29, 1929, during a pivotal municipal council session, Mr. Galière, the mayor of Châteauneuf, presented the final plans and estimates, and the fountain project was officially adopted.

The heavy stones for the fountain were meticulously carved by Mr. Bourret from the neighboring village of La Fage. Upon its completion, the inhabitants deeply appreciated the new convenience of simply filling their watering cans at the square rather than trekking out to draw water from their distant meadows.