Château bas de Boussagues

En un regard

Le château en bref

The lower château of Boussagues, in the hamlet of the same name in the commune of La Tour-sur-Orb (Hérault), forms together with the upper château (the Castellas) the castral ensemble of Boussagues. A more comfortable seigneurial residence than the military stronghold of the upper château, it developed between the 12th and 16th centuries: a document of 1199 already distinguishes the old château from other possessions "in castro de Bociacis"; in 1218, a "new château" (castro novo) is mentioned, and in 1256 it was given a "new house" (domo nova). The south-east tower, three storeys of ashlar masonry with a twin window with carved capitals, is thought to date from the late 12th or early 13th century; the east wing was added in the early 16th century, and the north and west wings in the 17th century. In 1827, the estate belonged to Pierre Rey, a retired captain. Photographs from the early 20th century show the building without a roof; a major restoration, including the re-roofing, was carried out between the 1920s and 1935. Privately owned today, the ensemble is arranged in a horseshoe around a courtyard.