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Founded: 11th centuryCategory: Castles and fortifications in France
Historical period: Birth of Capetian dynasty (France)
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The Château de Thouzon, located in the commune of Le Thor in Vaucluse, was originally a fortified Benedictine monastery. It preserves an ancient vaulted church, a chapel, two towers, remnants of walls, and a stone-carved cistern in its courtyard. Privately owned, the site is restored and maintained by a volunteer association that organizes summer youth projects.
In 1014, the Benedictines of Saint-André Abbey gained possession of Thouzon, confirmed by the Bishop of Cavaillon. Throughout the 11th and 12th centuries, prominent figures such as Raymond IV of Toulouse and Pope Gelasius II granted privileges to the abbey. By 1202, the monks of Saint-André held sole ownership of Sainte-Marie and Saint-Pierre churches, despite still owing allegiance to the house of Toulouse. The site was briefly occupied by soldiers in 1396.
In 1563, the Baron des Adrets entered the domain during the Wars of Religion. In 1696, the château was sold to Joseph de Martin, then passed through various families, suffering gradual decline. In 1836, part of the château was dismantled due to local authority orders, despite ownership disputes.
The Thouzon altarpiece, now in the Louvre, consists of two painted willowwood panels depicting scenes from the life of Saint Andrew. Discovered in 1870 in one of Thouzon’s chapels, it portrays Saint Andrew driving out demons and extinguishing a fire with his disciple.
The site is open to pedestrians year-round. Sainte-Marie Church is accessible on the first and third Sundays of each month, during Heritage Days, and on the first Sunday in May.
The Church of St Donatus name refers to Donatus of Zadar, who began construction on this church in the 9th century and ended it on the northeastern part of the Roman forum. It is the largest Pre-Romanesque building in Croatia.
The beginning of the building of the church was placed to the second half of the 8th century, and it is supposed to have been completed in the 9th century. The Zadar bishop and diplomat Donat (8th and 9th centuries) is credited with the building of the church. He led the representations of the Dalmatian cities to Constantinople and Charles the Great, which is why this church bears slight resemblance to Charlemagne's court chapels, especially the one in Aachen, and also to the Basilica of San Vitale in Ravenna. It belongs to the Pre-Romanesque architectural period.
The circular church, formerly domed, is 27 m high and is characterised by simplicity and technical primitivism.