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Origin and history

The Bruniquel castles, located in the Tarn-et-Garonne region of Occitanie, are a castral complex composed of two buildings: the "old castle" (or castel beel), whose origin would go back according to legend to the Merovingian queen Brunehaut in the 6th century, and the "young castle" (or castel djoubé), built between 1485 and 1510. The ensemble dominates the Aveyron gorges, close to the Tarn, by 90 metres, and was originally built to control the road from Quercy to Albigeois. The site, occupied from Roman times by a castrum, became a Viscount around 1050 under the authority of the Viscounts of Toulouse, before being conquered in 1176 by the Counts of Toulouse on the Trencavel.

In the 13th century, the "old castle" was rebuilt on the ruins of the first building and became the property of the Counts of Toulouse, then of the Viscounts of Bruniquel, from this line. The rivalry between the two branches of the Comminges-Couserans family, one Catholic (owner of the "old castle"), the other Protestant (owner of the "young castle"), marked the history of the places from the 15th to the 18th century. These conflicts left visible traces, such as the stigmas of attacks in the knights' room. In 1780 the Viscount Louis Rigal d'Ouvrier united the two castles by buying the "young castle".

The Bruniquel castles feature remarkable architectural elements, such as a 12th century square dungeon, 13th century lodges, a Renaissance arcade gallery overlooking Aveyron, and a 17th century kitchen equipped with a nine-hole vegetable garden. Ranked as historical monuments in 1840, they were acquired by the municipality in 1987 after belonging to the family of Ouvrier de Bruniquel until 1980. The site also houses prehistoric rock shelters classified in 1996, and serves as a framework for the Bruniquel Castle Festival. It was also used as a set for the film Le Vieux Fusil (1975) with Romy Schneider and Philippe Noiret.

The "old castle" is associated with Guillaume de Tudèle, author of the Song of the Albige Crusade, who resided there. The two castles, symbols of religious and feudal tensions, also illustrate the architectural evolution from the Middle Ages to the Baroque period, with changes in the 17th and 18th centuries. Their history reflects the political and family stakes of medieval Occitania, between Toulouse's heritage and dynasty.

The advanced fortifications of the castles were listed as historical monuments in February 2025, supplementing the protection of a site that combines medieval heritage, prehistoric remains and exceptional natural landscapes. Open to the public from March to November, the castles offer an immersion in local history, including a room dedicated to the "Treasures of Bruniquel" discovered in the nearby caves.

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