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Origin and history

The Château de Lavalette, located in the commune of Lavalette (Hérault, Occitanie), is mentioned as early as 804 in the cartulare of Gellone. The site was fortified in the 12th century, probably at the current location. The remains of the 13th or 14th century, like a round tower and a courtine, testify to its medieval defensive role. The castle was destroyed in 1585 during the siege led by Joyeuse's party, in the context of the Wars of Religion.

At the beginning of the seventeenth century, a partial reconstruction campaign was undertaken for the Fabre de Latude, seigneurs de Lavalette. This phase includes the construction of three houses, a staircase and an entrance door, including a monumental fireplace and an outside door. The later modifications, in the 18th and 19th centuries, partially altered its ancient character, notably by the addition of sill windows and a Louis XV style door.

Today the castle presents itself as a rectangular structure in shale, with four towers of corner with roofs in the pavilion. Although listed as a Historic Monument since 1963 for its door and fireplace, part of its architectural history remains marked by successive changes. Its link with the bishops of Lodève, vassals of the seigneurs of Lavalette in the 15th century, underlines its strategic and seigneurial importance in the region.

Available sources, including Wikipedia and Monumentum, point to uncertainties over certain periods, including the hypothesis of a 15th century origin before the major transformations of the 17th and 18th centuries. The medieval remains, partially visible, recall its past as a strong castle, while the additions of the nineteenth century, like square ravens, reflect an adaptation to the tastes of the era.

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