Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

Cazelles Castle, built in the 13th century, was an advanced defensive system for the nearby town of Cordes-sur-Ciel. Its primary function was that of a watchtower, although its original owners remain unknown. The oldest remains, such as the 1.30 meter thick square tower, date from this medieval period.

In 1395, the Viscount of Paulin, Pierre de Rabastens, gave the castle to Jean-Molinier de Rozet, silversmith of the Duke of Berry and noble of Cordes. Rozet's family preserved the property until the middle of the 16th century, before it probably passed into the hands of the Cahuzac. In 1630, François de Cahuzac was the owner, then the property passed through by marriage to the Cadrieu family before being sold in 1724 to a notable from Monestiès.

Spared during the Revolution, the castle became a farm in 1798. Its interiors, once painted and equipped with thirteen rooms with fireplaces, lose their decorations during this agricultural transformation. Beginning in the 1960s, restorations restored the site to its historical aspect, including the medieval tower and 15th century wooden bodies, organized around an inner courtyard.

The architecture combines defensive elements, such as the blind tower on its ground floor and previously accessible by ladder, and subsequent residential developments. A dovecote, located in a nearby field, completes the whole. Today, the castle bears witness to its evolution, between medieval fortress, seigneurial residence and rural exploitation.

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