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Origin and history

The castle of Salgas, located near Vebron in Lozère, is a 18th and 19th century building, deeply marked by the history of the Cevennes. It is mentioned in 1312, but its present appearance is the result of major transformations in the 18th and 19th centuries, erasing any trace of its medieval origin. The modifications of the 19th century, such as the addition of frontons, balconies, or the transformation of roofs into slate, gave it an elegant residential style, without military reference.

During the War of the Camisards (1685–15), the castle houses François de Pelet, a Protestant Baron of Salgas. After the revocation of the edict of Nantes, this peaceful naturalist is forced to become involved in the Camisard revolt. Sentenced to galleys, he was released only upon the death of Louis XIV, but lost his property. The castle, seized by the Crown, is transferred to the cardinal of Bernis, whose family still owns it today.

Ranked a historic monument since 1991, the castle of Salgas is distinguished by its facades, roofs and protected gardens. Located in the Cevennes National Park, it bears witness to both the architecture of the Lozerian and the religious upheavals of the Gevaudan. Its landscaped environment, carefully arranged, reflects the aesthetic tastes of the 18th and 19th centuries.

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