Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Château de la Grange, located in Servières en Lozère, is a rectangular local stone building built between the late 16th and early 17th centuries. Its medieval architecture, with little change, is distinguished by a round granite mâchicoulis path and a facade decorated with a Louis XIII door called "diamond facet", characteristic of the Gevaudan. Eight large rose sandstone windows pierce the house, recalling regional models such as the castles of the Champ or Rocheblave. The estate, surrounded by a black pine forest, reflects the influence of local noble families.

The building of the castle is attributed to the Borrel family (15th century), which became Borrel of Chanoilhet in the 17th century and then Borrel of Lagrange in the 18th century. Lords of Lagrange, Servants and Chanoilhet, the Borrels join the Gevaudian aristocracy, such as the Retz de Servières or the Salin de Salillant. A 1716 document reveals that the estate has 315 annual books, illustrating a modest lifestyle: in comparison, a lieutenant earned 900 pounds in 1726, while a cow cost 50 pounds.

In the 18th century, Marie-Adélaïde de Borrel de Chanoilhet married Jean-Baptiste de Florit from the Tour de Clamouse de Corsac, a military figure and mayor of Mende in 1815. Commander of the Condé army and inspector of the National Guards, he transmitted the castle to his descendants until 1912, the date of the death of Urbain de Corsac, the last heir. The castle, classified as Historic Monument in 1999, bears witness to the history of the local elites and their gradual decline.

The building maintains remarkable internal structures, such as a painted vestibule, and is part of a network of Gravuda castles with similar architectural features. Its designation as historic monuments in 1999 highlights its heritage value, linked to its authenticity and its anchoring in regional history. Today, there remains a symbol of the feudal and noble heritage of the Lozère, between family memory and preserved architecture.

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