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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The castle of Largentière, built in the 13th century, is an ancient castle located in the department of Ardèche, overlooking the city of the same name. Its origin is linked to the exploitation of silver lead mines in the Line Valley, which made the region a major economic and political issue since the Middle Ages. The early tower, called Argentaria, was built by the bishop of Viviers to control the mines and assert his rights in front of the Counts of Toulouse, who owned the nearby castle of Fanjeaux.

In the 12th century, the castle became the heart of conflicts between the bishop of Viviers, the Counts of Toulouse, and other local lords such as Aymar de Poitiers and Bermond d'Anduze. These tensions culminated during the Albigois Crusade (1209–129), where the castle changed hands several times. After the Treaty of Paris (1229) the bishop of Viviers became the only lord, consolidating his power over the mines and the region. The castle was enlarged in the 15th and 16th centuries by the bishops Jean de Montchenu and Claude de Tournon, who added ramparts and a pentagonal tower.

During the Wars of Religion, the castle was taken by Protestants in 1562 before being taken over by Catholics. In 1670 he resisted a siege during the revolt in Roure, delivered by the royal troops commanded by d'Artagnan. Sold in 1714 to the Marquis de Brison, the fortress was transformed into a seigneurial residence, with amenities such as a monumental staircase and a carriageway. After the Revolution, the castle served as a court, a prison and then a hospital until 1995.

Ranked a historic monument in 1927, the castle has been restored since the 1990s, revealing its medieval dungeon. In 2021, the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region announced its transformation into a campus of catering and tourism trades, with an opening planned in 2027. Its history reflects power struggles, mining, and architectural transformations over nearly eight centuries.

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