Château de Casteljau

En un regard

Le château en bref

The Château de Casteljau occupies the centre of a peninsula formed by a meander of the Chassezac, in the commune of Berrias-et-Casteljau in the southern Ardèche. The site, occupied since prehistoric times, has yielded the remains of a Gallo-Roman settlement. From the 12th century onwards, a castle was built on this naturally fortified position, which controlled the communication routes of the Chassezac valley; it gave its name to a noble family, the La Baume de Casteljau family, still represented today. Knights and lords of Casteljau are recorded from the 13th to the 17th century, before the estate was sold in 1710 to the Count of La Garde de Chambonas. The castle chapel, dedicated to Saint Maurice, served as the parish church. Partially demolished in the 16th century, the building was converted into a large farm. In 1969, it underwent a major restoration led by the architects Michel Andrault, Pierre Parat and Michel Vincent, who created 94 holiday homes while preserving the character of the 13th-century building. The castle now operates as a holiday village (résidence Lou Castel).