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Origin and history

The castle of Cougoussac, located in the commune of Gabrias in Lozère (former Gevaudan), has its origins in the 14th century, when the local manse is transformed into a castle by the lords of Gabrias. This site was one of the twelve seigneuries of Gevaudan, subject to an annual entry fee to the particular states of the province. The building, originally medieval, today retains only substructures like a tower and cellars.

At the end of the 16th century, the castle passed into the hands of the Calvet family, lords of Fontanilles and converted to Protestantism. Their possession coincides with the wars of Religion, a period marked by violent repression in the region. In 1587, the property belonged to the Retz de Bressolles family, of Scottish origin, which shaped the present appearance of the castle with major developments in the 17th and 18th centuries.

The Bressolles Retz occupied the site until 1849 (excluding the revolutionary period), leaving architectural traces such as the 1672 gate or the 1622 chapel. Since 1906, the castle belongs to the Rousset family, which began a restoration programme in 1996, including the consolidation of the chapel. The estate, listed as a Historical Monument in 1986, is organized around a main house body, an isolated chapel and a wall of enclosure with gate and entrance pavilions.

Cougoussac Castle illustrates the architectural evolution of a Gevaudan seigneury, from medieval foundations to classical transformations. Its history also reflects the religious and political upheavals of the region, from the wars of Religion to the Revolution. Today, the site opens to the public during Heritage Days, offering a material testimony of this complex past.

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