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Origin and history

Fressac Castle is a medieval building built between the 12th and 13th centuries, probably by the Bermond family of Anduze and Sauve. Located on the hill of Castellas at 340 meters altitude, it measures about 40 meters in its largest dimension. Its remains, visible from Monoblet, Anduze and Saint-Hippolyte-du-Fort, bear witness to a mainly defensive function: barbacan, poternes, bretches and assommoir make it a typical "small refuge castle". Its enclosure, raised twice, reveals a constant adaptation to the military needs of the time.

Local tradition attributes the castle a stay of Blanche de Castille, mother of Saint Louis, although this information remains unverified. In the 18th century, during the Camisard War, it served as a refuge for the population during attacks, such as that of Sauve in December 1702. In 1992, the estate of the families of Cadolle and Verdelhan was transferred to the municipality of Fressac for a symbolic franc. Since 2019, a municipal decree has prohibited access due to risks of collapse, notably after the collapse of a vault.

Ranked at the additional inventory of Historic Monuments for its architectural interest, the castle embodies the turbulent history of the Cevennes. Its historic path, partially visible from the hamlet of Montèzes (Commune of Monoblet), preserves traces of pavement and border walls. Today, although closed to the public, there remains a symbol of the medieval defensive heritage and the religious conflicts that have marked the region.

The castle's defensive systems — scalables, shorts and bolt holes — illustrate the military techniques of the time. Its configuration makes it a strategic retreat point, rather than a permanent dwelling. The study of its ruins sheds light on the architectural adaptations of conflicts, especially during the War of the Camisards, where it played a protective role for the local populations.

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