Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

Bonneval Castle, built in the 16th century on a rocky promontory overlooking the Tarn, originally belonged to the family of Saint Paul. The births of Abel (1582-1644) and Louis de Saint-Paul (1612-1647) are attested. Between 1692 and 1717 Jean de Saint-Paul and his wife Marguerite de Villeneuve were the lords. The property then passed to the Sandral family, which kept it until the 20th century.

In 1903, Auguste Sandral bought the castle from his brother, but after the premature death of his son Justin in 1929, the estate, already in poor condition, became the scene of a drama. On the night of March 30 to 31, 1931, Clementine Sandral's widowed and indebted mother-in-law was murdered. The investigation revealed inconsistencies in his testimony (absence of traces of struggle, time of death prior to 9 p.m.), leading to his conviction for murder in 1931.

Fired in 1940, the castle is no longer a ruin without roof, but its walls and central tower, drowned in vegetation, still bear witness to its past. The criminal case, known as the Bonneval Castle case, marked local history with its impact in the Albigeois. The architecture, typical of 16th century seigneurial houses, includes a body of square houses flanked by a round tower, dominating a rocky at-pic.

The trial, held in Albi, contrasts prosecutor Pujol with lawyer Pourquie. Clementine Sandral, despite her protests of innocence, is sentenced to 20 years of forced labour. The reasons for the crime, linked to the debts and inheritance of the castle, illustrate the family and financial tensions of the time. The remains, although degraded, remain a place full of history, between architectural heritage and judicial memory.

The site, located in the hamlet of Bonneval, away from the centre of Ambialet, today attracts the curious for its spectacular setting and its tragic history. The walls still standing, overgrown by vegetation, offer a glimpse of the past grandeur of this seigneurial home, while the 1931 affair continues to feed local stories.

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