Initial construction Début XIIe siècle (≈ 1204)
Original medieval fortress built.
4e quart XVIe – 1er quart XVIIe siècle
Major transformation
Major transformation 4e quart XVIe – 1er quart XVIIe siècle (≈ 1725)
Massed plan and towers added.
XIXe siècle
Partial renovations
Partial renovations XIXe siècle (≈ 1865)
Modification of facades and interiors.
16 mai 1979
MH classification
MH classification 16 mai 1979 (≈ 1979)
Registration of key elements.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
Fronts and roofs of the castle; staircase in front of each of the two towers; enclosure wall with the three round corner towers and the remains of the two square towers; fireplace of the old kitchen on the ground floor (Box AB 122, 123): inscription by order of 16 May 1979
Key figures
Famille de Beauxhostes - Agel chestnuts
Historic owners cited.
Origin and history
The castle of Agel found its origins in the early 12th century as a medieval fortress. Transformed in depth in the 16th and 17th centuries, it then adopted a massed plan flanked by towers d'angle, including an octagonal tower housing a staircase in screws, vestige of the old dungeon. The front door, decorated with canned pilasters and a larmal cornice, bears witness to the ionic influence of the Renaissance. Defensive elements remain, such as crenelages, mouths and archeries, recalling its initial military function.
In the 19th century, the castle underwent notable changes: the facade on the park was changed, the ordinance of the bays was revised, and some French ceilings were hidden. The western facade, however, retains traces of early 17th-century architecture, with later-additiond, broken-fronted geminated bays. The ensemble is surrounded by a crenellated wall of enclosure, punctuated with three round towers and remains of two square towers, delimiting a enclosed space characteristic of fortresses adapted to modern times.
Ranked among the historical monuments since May 16, 1979, the castle specifically protects its facades, roofs, stairway to towers, the wall of enclosure, and a fireplace of the old kitchen. These protections underline its heritage importance, mixing medieval heritage and architectural evolutions of classical and modern eras. The site remains a major testimony of local history, linked to noble families such as the Beauxhostes, the Châtelans of Agel mentioned in the historical sources.
