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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The castle of Joyeuse was built around 1540 by Jean de Saint-Sauveur, Viscount of Joyeuse, on the site of an ancient fort. This Renaissance monument, located in the department of Ardèche, belonged to a noble lineage including William II and Anne de Joyeuse. The chapel of the castle, dedicated to Notre-Dame-de-Pitié, still houses the tomb of Guillaume V, bishop of Aleth (1524-1540).

Between the Revolution and 1832, part of the castle was destroyed, leaving only a northern wing. In the 19th century, its courtyard (the Brèchette) was enlarged by three large arches encroaching on the adjacent square. The building, rebuilt at that time, has maintained facades and roofs listed as historic monuments since 1988.

The castle changed hands several times, passing from Joyeuse to Lorraine, then to Rohan-Soubise, before being sold in 1788 to Cerice de Vogüé. Its chapel, integrated into the present church, and its episcopal tomb testify to its historical and religious importance.

The list of owners reflects his prestige: from the house of Anduze to Charles-François de Lorraine-Commercy, whose property was confiscated by Louis XIV in 1690. The castle was then attributed to Elizabeth of Lorraine, known as Miss of Lillebonne, before returning to the princes of Épinoy and the Rohan-Soubise, marking its anchor in the French aristocracy.

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