Château de Valon

Lacroix-Barrez, France

Château de Valon offers a sumptuous panoramic view of the Gorges de la Truyère. Since the 12th Century, the feudal castle, built like an eagle's nest on the rocky mound, has dominated the Gorges de la Truyère. This mediaeval site is classed as one of the most picturesque in the Aveyron. Traditional schist stone houses with lauze covered roofs overlook two magnificent valleys. The château is reputed for the tales recounted for children, the chapel, a symbol of silence and peace, and the keep, which takes on its full dimension when viewed from the inner courtyard. The château contains three beautiful superimposed rooms. A surprising staircase leads to the terrace, from which there is an enchanting view of the Gorges de la Truyère.

References:

Comments

Your name



Details

Founded: 12th century
Category: Castles and fortifications in France
Historical period: Birth of Capetian dynasty (France)

More Information

www.tourisme-aveyron.com

Rating

4.6/5 (based on Google user reviews)

User Reviews

John Casey (14 months ago)
Very nice forest walk nearby and a fantastic picnic spot just before the chateau signposted
Philippe Damiens (4 years ago)
Top!
Andrew Burns (4 years ago)
Beautiful place. Great local ice cream in the coffee shop
Alan Hughes (4 years ago)
Fantastic little castle, with charmingly reconstructed interiors and fantastic views from the top of the donjon (although the narrow spiral staircase isn't for the faint of heart). Great spot, cute little village with toilets and picnicking spots.
Powered by Google

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

Historic Site of the week

Abbey of Saint-Georges

Saint-Georges de Boscherville Abbey is a former Benedictine abbey. It was founded in about 1113 by Guillaume de Tancarville on the site of an earlier establishment of secular canons and settled by monks from the Abbey of Saint-Evroul. The abbey church made of Caumont stone was erected from 1113 to 1140. The Norman builders aimed to have very well-lit naves and they did this by means of tall, large windows, initially made possible by a wooden ceiling, which prevented uplift, although this was replaced by a Gothic vault in the 13th century. The chapter room was built after the abbey church and dates from the last quarter of the 12th century.

The arrival of the Maurist monks in 1659, after the disasters of the Wars of Religion, helped to get the abbey back on a firmer spiritual, architectural and economic footing. They erected a large monastic building one wing of which fitted tightly around the chapter house (which was otherwise left as it was).