The Château de Beauville foundations date from the end of the 13th century. Most of the building dates from a 16th-century reconstruction. The castle had a T-shaped plan but one of the wings was destroyed. Part of the castle has retained a crown of machicolations. Some tall windows have double mullions. There is a large interesting staircase inside and old kitchens.
In 1574, François de Beauville led the successful defence of the castle against the Protestants. It was used as Gendarmerie barracks from 1831 to 1976. In 1874, the commune was ordered to make repairs to damage caused to the barracks by the establishment of a byway.
The castle consists of a home of the late 16th century which has a wing whose foundations date from the old castle at the end of the 13th century. The thickness of the walls, the quality of the stones, the refinement of their dressing, demonstrate the use of particularly competent stone cutters and land surveyors.
The 16th-century part of the building is decorated with mullioned windows. Renaissance architecture is also present in the entrance door and fireplaces. A wing of the building was rebuilt in the 19th century.
References:Inverness Castle sits on a cliff overlooking the River Ness. The red sandstone structure evident today was built in 1836 by architect William Burn. It is built on the site of an 11th-century (c. 1057) defensive structure. Today, it houses Inverness Sheriff Court.
The castle is said to have been built by Máel Coluim III of Scotland, after he had razed to the ground the castle in which Macbeth of Scotland according to much later tradition, murdered Máel Coluim"s father Donnchad I of Scotland, and which stood on a hill around 1 km to the north-east.
The first Inverness Castle was partially destroyed by King Robert I of Scotland and a replacement castle was sacked in the 15th century by the Clan Donald during the Siege of Inverness (1429). The castle was occupied during the Raid on Ross in 1491.
In 1548 another castle with tower was completed by George Gordon, 4th Earl of Huntly (1514–1562). He was constable of the castle until 1562.