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Origin and history

The castle of Allègre, mentioned in 1163 as Castrum de Alegrio, was a fief shared between several noble families under the suzerainety of the bishop of Uzès. In 1211, a parchment by Philippe Auguste confirmed this Languedocian coseigneurie, where the knights betting (coseigneurs) paid homage to the bishop. The lord of Portes held the rights of high and low justice, including the death penalty, and resided in one of the towers. This complex system reflected the feudal dynamics of medieval Midi, where power was often fragmented among several lines.

In 1313 William of Randon, the dominant lord, received the tribute of eight coseigneurs, including the families of Naves, Jourdan, or Allegor. A year later, the seigneury passed into the hands of the Budos family, which kept it until the 17th century. The castle, already in ruins at that time, then changed hands: inherited by the prince of Conti (descendant of Henriette de Budos), it was sold in 1780 to Jacques-Marcellin-Denis de Bérard, Viscount de Montalet. The remains, occupied by peasants until 1910, show continued occupation despite their gradual decline.

Architecturally, the castrum covered 1.5 hectares at 275 metres above sea level, offering stunning views of the Cevennes and Mont Bouquet. Its notable features include an 11th-century Romanesque chapel, a 14th-15th-century porch, and a cliff-side palatial complex, bringing together guard rooms, living spaces and storage facilities. The house Loubier, an old tower of the 11th century, was inhabited until 1906. Archaeological excavations, including those led by Sophie Aspord-Mercier, revealed two centuries of construction and buried remains.

The site, accessible by two historic paths (one passing through the ruined village, the other using the ancient royal route from Uzès to Saint-Ambroix), illustrates the strategic importance of medieval castrums. These fortresses served as both a refuge, an administrative centre and a symbol of power for local lords. The south tower, overlooking the cliff, and the northeast tower with remarkable equipment, highlight the defensive character of the site. The ruins, classified as Historic Monument in 1997, are now protected by an association dedicated to their preservation.

The castle of Allegre embodies the specificities of the Languedoc feudalism: a shared coseigneuria, local justice exercised by peers, and architecture adapted to the conflicts of the Middle Ages. Its gradual abandonment, accelerated by the sale of 1780 and the final desertion in 1910, made it a silent witness to the social and political changes of the region, from the Albigesian crusades to the French Revolution.

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