Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

The castle of Cambiaire, built from 1366 by Bernard and Pierre de Raymond de Calberte with the permission of the Viscount of Beaufort, is a typical example of medieval seigneurial architecture. Its towers and slots, symbols of power, mark its status as noble residence. The square dungeon, made of shale stone and quartz, dates back to the 14th century, while its elevation and vised stairway date back to the late 15th century. Although conceived as an ostentatious home, he never had a defensive military role for the village.

In 1392 the Raymond de Calberte acquired rights of justice at Saint-Étienne, becoming co-teachers until the 18th century. The castle then passed to the Cabirons by alliance, then to the Marquis Borelly de Roqueservières, who still owned it in 1789. Unlike other noble homes in the region, it escapes revolutionary degradations in 1792, despite pressure from the rulers to abolish feudal royalties. His present name comes from General Jean Joseph Alexandre Amédée de Cambiaire, husband of a descendant of the Cabirons.

In the 19th century, Jeanne de Cabiron had the castle restored in a neo-medieval style, adding a neo-Gothic chapel (1875) and a replica of the Lourdes cave. The site became a place of Catholic pilgrimage until the 1940s. On 8 April 1944, German troops set fire to the castle in retaliation for its use as a headquarters by Maquis Bir-Hakeim, destroying its furniture and library. Repurchased and restored after the war, it partially loses the slender appearance of its turrets. Long private property, it is today dedicated to tourism with gites and guest rooms.

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