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Origin and history

The castle of Labastide Vassals, also called Bastide des Vassals, is a medieval hamlet in ruins located in Saint-Grégoire, in the Tarn. It consists mainly of a 13th century square dungeon, surrounded by vestiges of dwellings, a 17th century mill and a two arched bridge probably dating from the 15th century. This site, now lost in the forest, preserves a historical charm marked by its partially preserved structures, such as the ogival gate of the dungeon and the walls of the mill.

The Bastide des Vassals was founded around 1260 by two knights of Lombers, Pierre and Raimond de Vassal, who built a dungeon and some houses there. The place, originally called Bastide d'en Coia, passed into the hands of Gasc's family in the 14th century. Guillaume de Gasc, shield of the future Louis XI, played a key role during the Hundred Years' War: after the destruction of the dungeon by the English in 1430, he obtained in 1439 royal authorization to rebuild it. The site is then transmitted to the Bern family, from Brassac.

In the 16th century, the dungeon and hamlet were abandoned in favour of more comfortable residences, such as the Gautherie or Cussac castles. Only the mill remained active until 1888, when it was sold and declared in ruins in 1927. Today, the Bastide des Vassals association works to preserve the site, combining archaeological excavations and sustainable rehabilitation projects. The remains, including the mill dam and millstones, bear witness to its artisanal and seigneurial past.

Architecturally, the site is distinguished by its square dungeon, partially preserved on two floors, and its village organization around it. The houses, dug in the ground, were built around a common bread oven. The mill, located 70 metres from the dungeon, operated the Lézert Creek with a 4.50 metre high dam. These elements, though ruined, offer a glimpse of medieval and post-medieval life in this region of Occitanie.

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