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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 Walls of Constantinople are a series of defensive stone walls that have surrounded and protected the city of Constantinople (today Istanbul) since its founding as the new capital of the Roman Empire by Constantine the Great. With numerous additions and modifications during their history, they were the last great fortification system of antiquity, and one of the most complex and elaborate systems ever built. They were also the largest and strongest fortification in both the ancient and medieval world.
Initially built by Constantine the Great, the walls surrounded the new city on all sides, protecting it against attack from both sea and land. As the city grew, the famous double line of the Theodosian Walls was built in the 5th century. Although the other sections of the walls were less elaborate, they were, when well-manned, almost impregnable for any medieval besieger.