Castanet Castle - Jewel of the 16th Century
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Castanet Castle - Jewel of the 16th Century |
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In the heart of Lozère, nestled in the lush folds of Pourcharesses, stands Castanet Castle, a jewel of the 16th century. Its history is woven into the tapestry of the French countryside, where chestnut trees reign supreme and whisper the secrets of yesteryear.
Location Perched on a promontory, the castle overlooks the surroundings of Villefort, a canton that once escaped the influence of Gévaudan to come under the benevolence of the bishopric of Uzès. The lords of Castanet, with their lands extending to La Garde-Guérin, swore allegiance to the bishop of Mende, their overlord.
The land of Castanet, named after the Occitan word for "chestnut," is a stop for pilgrims from the Massif Central, treading the Régordane path towards the Abbey of Saint-Gilles. It is also the link between Mende and Villefort, via the Soteirana, meandering through the valleys of Lot and Altier.
Today The castle, once threatened by the waters, is now caressed by the tranquil waters of Lake Villefort. This artificial lake, born of human will and the Villefort dam, nearly claimed the castle as one of its submerged gems.
Toponymy Castanet, a name that evokes lush chestnut groves, is a living tribute to the tree that dominates the landscape and keeps the stories of this feudal land.
In the meanders of history, the manse of Castanet stands, a vestige from the 13th century, perhaps even older, anchored in the parish of Saint-Victorin-de-Villefort. Under the aegis of the diocese of Uzès, it depended on the Abbey of Saint-Gilles, a sanctuary for pious souls. The lord of Hérail, co-lord of La Garde-Guérin and loyal vassal of the bishop of Mende, was its guardian. The manse, a heritage traversing the ages, conferred upon its masters the prestigious right to be co-lord of La Garde-Guérin until, in 1550, it fell into the hands of Robert Brun. He was the one who, on December 14, 1571, passed the torch to Jacques d’Isarn of Villefort.
Jacques d’Isarn, a visionary of his time, erected the manor of Castanet the very next year. His descendants, like artists, expanded and embellished this masterpiece stone by stone. The coat of arms he created, azure adorned with a gold band, flanked by three bezants and a shining crescent, became the emblem that proudly sits atop the fireplace.
As time passed, around 1684, the castle lost its luster in the eyes of the d’Isarn family. Jacques Joseph d’Isarn, the heir, united with Marie Suzanne de Valicourt, the marquise of Villefort and governess of the royal children, abandoned this place for more prestigious horizons.
In 1760, Jean-Louis Baldit, a renowned lawyer from Villefort, acquired the castle from Louis-François d’Isarn, including its fertile lands and outbuildings. But the story did not stop there, for in 1784, Victorin Bonnet-Ladevèze, the city's judge, became its new lord. The French Revolution disrupted the established order, and the castle, now a national property, was sold to Théodore Borrely and Joseph André de Villefort, after the former owner was forced into exile by the revolutionary turmoil.
In 1932, a new chapter in the history of Castanet Castle opened when Joseph Piton became its owner, marking the beginning of a family era that would last until the 1960s. It was a period of tranquility but also uncertainty, as the specter of destruction loomed over the castle. The Villefort dam project, initiated between 1956 and 1957, threatened to engulf part of the valley, including the castle. Fortunately, the castle's listing as a historical monument in 1964 provided it with protective measures, averting the danger of its disappearance.
Under the aegis of EDF, the castle was entrusted to the intercommunal union Villefort-Pourcharesses-Prévenchères, thus beginning a new chapter in its life. It awakened to culture and became a showcase for art exhibitions, welcoming artists and the curious until 1992. Then, from 1993 to 1995, it adorned itself with the first cameras, silent witnesses to the evolution of photography.
In 1997, three associations breathed new life into the castle by creating exhibitions that tell the daily life of the region's inhabitants during the first half of the 20th century. But in March 2000, fate struck cruelly: a devastating fire reduced the castle to silence. It was only after a restoration completed in 2006 that the castle rose from its ashes, reopening its doors to guided tours and exhibitions, thanks to the involvement of the community council, determined to preserve this witness to history.
Former holiday hotel with a garden along the Allier, L'Etoile Guest House is located in La Bastide-Puylaurent between Lozere, Ardeche, and the Cevennes in the mountains of Southern France. At the crossroads of GR®7, GR®70 Stevenson Path, GR®72, GR®700 Regordane Way, GR®470 Allier River springs and gorges, GRP® Cevenol, Ardechoise Mountains, Margeride. Numerous loop trails for hiking and one-day biking excursions. Ideal for a relaxing and hiking getaway.
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