Saint-Léons, Midi-Pyrénées 12780

Between Rodez et Millau. For more than 900 years, this castle has been maintained in the same family one of the oldest families in Rouergue, where Crusader knights, prelates and high-ranking soldiers, took part in some major events in the history of France. It also presents an interesting example of architectural evolution from the Middle Ages to the 19th century. 1: The ground plan, in the defensive shape of a 'horseshoe' seems, according to Jacques Miquel, to correspond to that of a very old castle, of the type of the feudal mound and would then be prior to the year one thousand. This would make it one of the oldest castles in the department. 2: In 1642 it was partly destroyed by an accidental fire and rebuilt at the same time on its foundations, including architectural elements from the Italian Renaissance style: door bearing the family arms in the interior courtyard, windows and monumental pediment on the south side, balustrade on the terrace etc. The frame is built in the shape of an overturned boat hull. 3: In the middle of the 19th century, many restoration works and modifications to the exterior and interior of the castle were undertaken by the Marquis, influenced by the neogothic style: doors and windows of the interior courtyard, crenellated wall, eye-catching decorations... The fortifications of the ancient fortress have given way to pleasure gardens with terraces, suspended mound, greenhouse, entrance gate, emblazoned fountain. The castle park is closed off by an adjoining wall and several accesses, including one overlooking the church square (greenhouse). Despite the successive alterations, some vestiges of the old castle have been preserved: loopholes, fishbone fittings, machicolations, pilasters, ribbed vaults... The castle has been listed in the supplementary inventory of Historic Monuments since 1991, and was open to guided tours until 2015.