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Origin and history

The castle of Genas, located in the plain of Andrans in Cléon-d'Andran (Provencal Drôme), was built in the seventeenth century on lands formerly belonging to the Adhémar, then successively transferred to the Counts of Poitiers-Valentinois, to the Taulignan, and finally to the Urre before being acquired by the Sillol in 1669. The seigneury returned to the Moutiers in 1782, but it was Genas' family, established in 1614, that marked its history. Blaise de Genas, seigneur of Beaulieu, heir by alliance of Giraud, established his residence there after having received the property of his grandfather-in-law, Aimar Giraud.

The local archives, destroyed in 1621 and 1648, leave little trace of the precise origins of the castle. However, it is known that René de Genas (1642–42), lieutenant of the king and scholar, lived there a century and embellished the estate, as evidenced by the contract of 1692 for the construction of the large staircase. Its inventory of 1739, preserved in Valencia, reveals an interior rich in works of art, a library and collections of Roman medals. When he died without a direct heir, the castle fell to the hospital of Saint John in Valencia, before being sold in 1782 to a Nîmes owner, then changed hands several times in the 19th century.

The architecture of the castle, of classic style, is distinguished by an Italian facade oriented east-west, two pavilions flanked by curvilinear frontons, and a double staircase with balusters decorated with lions, emblems of the Genas family. The park, once equipped with a hydro system powered by a wind turbine, housed basins and gardens that had disappeared. Ranked Historic Monument in 1989, the estate is only partially visited during Heritage Days, while its park hosts summer cultural events.

The Genas' weapons, initially silver in the genet de sinople, were modified in the 15th century after their alliance with the Spifame d'Avignon, adopting a spread of the eagles of Lucca. These weapons are still on the front of the castle. After the Revolution, the estate, formerly called Château de Beaulieu (from the name of a family seigneury near Valencia), definitely took the name of castle of Genas, as attested on the map of Cassini and the Napoleonic cadastre.

The protection of the castle began in 1981 with the inscription of its exterior staircase, followed in 1989 by that of the entire building, its fence wall, its gate and its garden. Today, it is privately owned and perpetuates an architectural and family heritage, the present owners being collateral descendants of the Saulces, family allied to the Genas in the 17th century.

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