Château de Châteauneuf-de-Vernoux

En un regard

Le château en bref

Château de Châteauneuf-de-Vernoux stands in the commune of Châteauneuf-de-Vernoux, in Ardèche, at the place called Le Château, overlooking the old fortified village from the Vernoux plateau. Today only the remains of the keep survive, of which only the south, east and west faces are partially preserved. The building is thought to have been constructed in the second half of the 14th century, based on an analysis of its architecture. The castrum is mentioned as early as 1224, when the Count of Valentinois ceded rights over it to Guillaume de Lamastre and Jarenton de Chapteuil; between 1226 and 1270, it was acknowledged that the count held the castle as a fief of the King of France. In 1255, Marguerite de Poitiers received rights over the seigneury as her dowry. The seigneury then passed through several hands: in 1592 it was held by François de Barjac, a Protestant leader married to Claude de La Marette; in 1631 by the lord of Gardon; in 1657 by Bené de Bénéfice, before a disputed succession arose in 1682. In 1567, an order to dismantle the fortifications was issued by Henri de Montmorency-Damville, Governor of Languedoc. The keep, quadrangular in plan and very tall, rose over several levels and was built of granite, with bartizans at the corners. The interior retained a fireplace, a wall cupboard and two windows with window seats. Now in ruins, the site is freely accessible to the public: a landscape orientation table has been installed in the tower, offering a panoramic view over the Vernoux plateau.