Château La Commanderie

Plaigne, France

Château La Commanderie in Plaigne is one of the rare Cathar castles still inhabited. La Commanderie was built in the 12th century by Guillaume de Plaigne, a Cathar Lord, who took an active role in the massacre of Avignonet and afterwards joined the besieged stronghold as a member of the garrison, along with his brother, at the famous siege of Montségur.

In the 16th century, Barthelemy de Plaigne extended the château. It was sold the Knights of Malta (The Knights Hospitaller) in the 17th century. In the 19th century, the chateau belonged to Mr de Nicol, who modernised the building, and it remained in this family for a century, the last descent being Vilolette de Ferluc.

Today, the imposing castle retains its original spirit of an ancient medieval castle, but modernised to create a family home. It has been beautifully decorated by the current artist-owner and her family, creating a grand but comfortable setting for a holiday, family or company event.

References:

Comments

Your name



Details

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

Rating

4.5/5 (based on Google user reviews)

User Reviews

AaronTownsend TV (4 months ago)
A Timeless Gem: Château La Commanderie Château La Commanderie is a truly extraordinary place, steeped in history and surrounded by breathtaking natural beauty. From the moment we arrived, we were captivated by the castle's majestic presence and the tranquility of its surroundings. The perfect blend of ancient architecture and unspoiled nature creates an unforgettable experience. It's a place where time seems to stand still, allowing guests to relax and fully immerse themselves in the magic of the location.
Charlotte Smith (4 months ago)
We had our wedding here in May of this year and it was PERFECT! Everything about the chateau was exactly what we wanted. The wedding itself had 50 people and 29 of us slept very comfortably at the chateau for four nights. The chateau itself is spectacular, and has so many amazing and well preserved features--one of the staircases is oak from the 16th century I believe. Our guests were all very impressed, and it was so much fun to spend a week in such a beautiful and unique chateau! It was also very well equipped for a wedding, which really made our life so much easier! Make sure to ask Rebecca what she has available that you can use, because it could really save you time and money when it comes to renting equipment you might not need. I really can't say enough good things about this place, and I'm really SO SO happy we picked it for our wedding!
Joanna Snawder (4 months ago)
A group of 21 of us just returned from a week at the Chateau and it was stupendous! We went for a 50th birthday celebration and the Commanderie was the ideal setting: peaceful, plenty of space inside and out and of course, the pool! We loved every minute of it as it felt so special to be there with friends, break bread and just enjoy each other's company in this historic place. A big thank you to Rebecca for sharing so many resources to enhance our visit, including a fabulous caterer and wines! We found any and everything we needed in nearby Mirepoix. The real treat though, was simply being at the Chateau. It is a magical place.
James Cason (4 months ago)
This wonderful, historic location is as much a museum as it is a B&B. The owner has assembled and incredible collection of antiques spread throughout each unique room in the castle, and is ready to present the history of whichever might catch your eye. Chateau La Commanderie should be not only your accommodation, but also your destination.
Edesio de Moura Junior (5 months ago)
We hosted a 6t0th birthday at Chateau La Commanderie for 65 guests in early June this year. The venue was perfect for the evening event and in fact 27 guests stayed with us at various times throughout the course of a week either side of the event itself. The bedrooms are large and well appointed, the grounds are beautifully tended and the chateau is situated in a very quiet location. Rebecca was an attentive host across the entire experience. We had a wonderful time and would not hesitate to recommend to others.
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).