Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The château bas de Montjaux was built in 1492 by Raymond de Prévinquières to succeed an ancient medieval castle in ruins, located on the heights of the village. This first castle, occupied as early as the 13th century, took advantage of defensive positions already exploited in Roman times, but was abandoned in the 16th century. The new "low castle" adopts a quadrilateral plan with four round towers and a square dungeon, now gone. His history was marked by the Wars of Religion: in 1578 a company was stationed there, and in 1625 his towers and dungeon were reduced for strategic reasons.

During the Revolution, the castle was sold as a national good before being bought by the inhabitants, then returned to the knight Philippe Antoine de Raymond upon his return from emigration. The interior fittings, which began in the 17th century, continued in the 19th and 20th centuries, with notable modifications such as the re-perceived windows in the 18th century or the painted decoration of monumental chimneys in the 20th century. It was listed as a historical monument in 1978 for its facades, roofs and chimneys and illustrates the architectural and social evolution of a seigneurial building over five centuries.

Today, the castle retains medieval defensive elements (round towers, door to bosses) and traces of modern residential transformations. Its history reflects the political and cultural upheavals of Aveyron, from the wars of Religion to the Revolution, through successive adaptations to aristocratic lifestyles. Sources also indicate an approximate location at 5011 Route du Château, although the cartographic accuracy remains limited (level 6/10).

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