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Origin and history

Château de La Chèze is an emblematic monument located in the department of Ardèche, at the top of a hill east of the village of Cheylard. Mentioned for the first time at the end of the 13th century, it belonged to the Tournon de la Chèze family. Its architecture, originally medieval, was enriched in the 15th century and then transformed in the Renaissance to reach its present size. This castle played a strategic role as a Protestant stronghold, especially between 1621 and 1622.

In the 18th century, the Portalès family, then owner, modernized the castle by adding windows and fireplaces to make it more comfortable. Under the First Empire, he hosted a Jesuit college. Major works were undertaken at the end of the 19th century, but the castle suffered a tragic fire on 6 July 1944 during the Battle of Cheylard. Abandoned in ruins until 1989, it was saved by the Association for the Protection of the Tinierian Heritage, which restored it through international volunteer projects until 2018.

The architecture of the castle combines medieval elements (XIII-15th centuries) and Renaissance additions, with traces of varied defensive systems such as archer, cannon and arquebusier. The restorations have resulted in the reconstitution of high-density and high-density aircraft. The windows at cross-sections of the 15th and 16th centuries coincide with the curved openings of the 18th century. The entrance, once protected by a drawbridge, still preserves the remains of its pit. Today, the castle is open for visits in July and August, testifying to its rich historical and architectural past.

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