Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
Façades and roofs of the castle itself (excluding modern additions); fireplace and painted ceiling of the large room on the first and second floors (Box C 455): inscription by order of 7 September 1978
Key figures
Guilhem V - Lord of Montpellier
Place the parish in 1121.
Jean de Roquefeuil - Lord of London
Reconstructed the castle in the 16th century.
Origin and history
The castle of London, located in Notre-Dame-de-London, finds its origins in fortifications mentioned in the thirteenth century in the cartular of the church of Maguelonne. The seigneury, owned for centuries by the family of Roquefeuil, was marked in the 16th century by Jean de Roquefeuil, lord of London. The present castle, probably rebuilt at that time on older bases, retained two original barlong towers, supplemented by round paths and round turrets. These developments reflect the tensions of the 16th century civil wars, with defences oriented towards the village itself.
In the 17th century, the castle was embellished with two painted ceilings, still visible today in the large hall. The windows of the facades, pierced in the 18th century, altered its external appearance. The monument, partially classified in 1978 for its facades, roofs, a fireplace and painted ceilings, bears witness to the architectural evolution and local conflicts. Its link with the neighbouring chapel, via an inner passage, underlines its central role in the religious and seigneurial life of the village.
The family of Roquefeuil, a historical owner, marked the history of the castle, whose defences were designed as much to protect themselves from external attacks as to control the inhabitants. The remains of the defensive works, less imposing around the outbuildings adjoining the church, illustrate this duality. Today, the castle remains a significant example of the military and seigneurial architecture of Languedoc, between medieval heritage and Renaissance adaptations.
