Château de Sampzon

En un regard

Le château en bref

The Château de Sampzon occupies a limestone promontory overlooking the southern banks of the Ardèche, near its confluence with other watercourses in the area. The site, probably an early medieval fortress and former seat of a vicarage (viguerie), is mentioned as early as 1240 in an agreement between the Bishop of Viviers and Dalmas de Lagorce, and again in 1308 when homage was paid to the Bishop of Viviers. Until the end of the 16th century, the building consisted only of its southern part, including the large square tower. Held by the Sampzon family from 1197, then linked to the Lagorce, Adillon and Rochier families, the castle passed around 1670 to the Chambonas family, before being acquired through marriage by Jean-Louis Tardy de Montravel, husband of the heiress Antoine Pellier. Damaged during the Wars of Religion in the early 17th century, it was restored and extended at the end of the 16th century, and the square tower underwent a further restoration in 1869. Surrounded by a five-hectare park, it now operates as a private estate offering holiday cottages (gîtes) and venue hire for receptions.