DONJON DE CHANAC

From the medieval fortification to the prestigious episcopal palace of the 17th century, the Château de Chanac has undergone many alterations. Of this castle built between 1172 and 1213 for the king of Aragon or more probably by the bishop of Mende, owner of the place from 1213, there remains today only the keep which still dominates the valley, fort of its strategic position. Composed of three semi-circular barrel vaulted levels, one of which has disappeared, served by narrow staircases built inside the walls, it bears on the outside the traces of the many buildings that were once attached. Medieval access was through the door opening on the 1st floor on the south side. A first enclosure, whose layout can still be guessed, is isolated to the north of the lowlands of the valley. A dry moat on the other sides, dug out of the rock, completely isolates the castle, which only corresponds with the village via a drawbridge to the south-east. A larger enclosure encompasses the village and its church which extends to the east. This is where the first lords of the Aragon family and then of Toulouse also built a tower. Taken and retaken by Protestant and Catholic troops during the Wars of Religion, the castle suffered a lot. But from 1686, Bishop de Piencourt launched major modernization works on the complex, to such an extent that the castle was nicknamed: "Little Versailles". It's the whole thing that is taken over, from the terrace to the water supply, through the interior decoration, the expansion of the stables, the creation of a cooler (to keep the ice all year round ) in the dungeon.... Unfortunately, the castle was the scene of confrontation during the Revolution and was in ruins when it was sold in 1804. The site now hosts shows and events, the dungeon can be visited with the Chanac Tourist Office, especially during Heritage Days.

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