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Origin and history

Florac Castle, located in Florac en Lozère, is a historic building dating back to the 13th century. At that time he was dependent on the Barony of Anduze, which also dominated territories such as Alès, Sauve and Sommières. Raymond d'Anduze, Baron of Florac, exercised his power there as vassal of the bishop of Mende. This feudal castle was one of the eight baronial seats of Gevaudan, marking its strategic and political importance in the region.

At the end of the 14th century, the Barony of Florac passed into the hands of the lords of Ventadour, an influential family in Limousin. Later, in the 15th and 16th centuries, it was owned by the family of Poitiers Valentinois, of which Diane de Poitiers was a famous member. The baronie changed hands in favour of La Mark (or La Marck), a family from the Ardennes, before being sold to François de Mirand, Treasurer General of France. These transitions reflect alliances and power games of the time.

The present castle, rebuilt in 1652 on the ruins of the ancient feudal castle, has had several uses over the centuries. Destroyed during the Wars of Religion in the 17th century, it was rebuilt on a nipple of tuff and limestone. During the French Revolution, it escaped destruction and served as a salt attic. In 1810, he was turned into a prison by the state, whose traces he still kept like bars on the windows. Since 1976, it has hosted the headquarters of the Cevennes National Park and offers a permanent exhibition on local landscapes.

Today, Florac Castle is an iconic place, combining historical heritage and environmental mission. Its architecture and history make it a witness to the political, social and cultural evolutions of the region, from the Middle Ages to the contemporary era. The exhibition "Passengers du Paysage", multilingual and interactive, reinforces its role of mediation between the past and the present.

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