Château de Castries

Description:

• It was in 1565 that Jacques de Castries undertook the first work on the castle. Effectively the castle belonged to the de Castries family since 1495. It was also a military hospital and now belongs to the Académie Française. Between the Holy wars and the Revolution the castle was damaged and looted and it was in 1828 that it was restored. The castle is renaissance style, as for the gardens they were conceived by Le Nôtre in 1666. You will find here the Salle des États of Languedoc, a collection of children's clothing, the library as well as the family's souvenirs. The furnishings are from the 17th and 18th Centuries, in particular to be admired is the beautiful earthenware stove, restored to working order for the vist from the Queen of England. There are also splendid objects which come from Indian company, among them a very big divided vase. As for the garden, it houses a statue of Cupid and an aquaduct which supplies the castle with water from the source of the Font Grand. The castle is being restored at the moment, all the roofing is being put back the way it was. The village is also agreeable with its former oil mill and the ruins of the Saint-Étienne Romanesque church dating from the 17th Century.
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