Construction of the first castle 1685 (≈ 1685)
Original castle of which remains a stone.
1913
Foundation of the Société des limes
Foundation of the Société des limes 1913 (≈ 1913)
Created by Malphettes and Thermes family.
1933
Reconstruction of the present castle
Reconstruction of the present castle 1933 (≈ 1933)
Works by Léon Daures for Léopold Malphettes.
1952
Completion of the gardens
Completion of the gardens 1952 (≈ 1952)
End of landscape developments.
1960
Donation of the vegetable garden to the city
Donation of the vegetable garden to the city 1960 (≈ 1960)
Construction of Bellevue High School.
2014
Registration for Historic Monuments
Registration for Historic Monuments 2014 (≈ 2014)
Protection of the castle, park and orangery.
2019
Conversion into residences
Conversion into residences 2019 (≈ 2019)
Transformation into eleven apartments.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
The castle, the park and the edicles it contains as well as the patio, in full, sis 129, rue du Commander-Blanche (Box BP 277, 278, 281): inscription by order of 3 April 2014 - The facades and roofs of the orangerie-pigeonnier-serre, sis 33, rue Fernandez (Box BP 279): inscription by order of 3 April 2014
Key figures
Léopold Malphettes - Industrial and sponsor
Central engineer, expert in reinforced concrete.
Léon Daures - Architect of the castle
Author of the plans in 1933.
Famille Thermes - Cement plant associates
Co-founders of the Société des limes.
Origin and history
The present Bellevue castle, located in Albi in the Tarn, was completely rebuilt in 1933 by architect Léon Daures for the industrial Leopold Malphettes, heir to a cement dynasty. This modern castle, made of reinforced concrete covered with bricks, replaces a first building dating from 1685, of which only an engraved stone remains integrated into the new construction. Malphettes, a central engineer and expert in reinforced concrete, personally supervises the plans, reflecting its social status and technical know-how. The work of the gardens ended around 1952, marking the end of the first phase of construction.
Léopold Malphettes, a major figure in the Albige industry, co-founded in 1913 the Société des limes et Cements du Languedoc, which had been operating family lime ovens since the 19th century. His expertise in reinforced concrete, formalized in a work published in 1917 (translated into Chinese in 1937), directly influences the structure of the castle. In 1960, part of the estate (the vegetable garden) was transferred to the city to build the Bellevue High School. The castle, which remained in the family until the 2010s, was listed as a historical monument in 2014.
The architecture of the castle combines neoclassical elements (double perron, loggia, stair tower with campanile) and 18th-century interior decorations (woodworks, French ceilings). The rear façade opens on a patio framed with edicules, while reinforced concrete walls, covered with bricks, illustrate the technical innovation of the period. Since 2019, after legal delays, the castle has been converted into eleven luxury apartments, preserving its architectural heritage.
The site also includes an orangerie-pigeonnier-serre, protected since 2014 with the facades of the castle. The protected elements cover the park, the edicles and the patio, highlighting the historical value of the ensemble. The Château de Bellevue thus embodies the transition between the aristocratic heritage (the 17th century castle) and industrial modernity (reconstruction of the 1930s), while at the same time testifying to the patronage of the Albige elites in the 20th century.
