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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The castle of Mailhoc, located north of the Albigeois on hills crossed by the Vère, is mentioned for the first time in 1227 in an act of co-significance of the sons of the lord of Penne. Its initial structure, typical of rectangular strong houses, reflects the tensions of the Hundred Years War between the crowns of France (Albigeois) and England (Rouergue). The round towers, although later modified, bear witness to this defensive period, while the lack of precise dating complicates their historical analysis.

At the beginning of the 16th century, three wings of the castle were built, adopting a Renaissance style under the impulse of Philippe de Rabastens, a Protestant leader who occupied the place during the wars of religion. The latter, known for its abuses in the region, modernises the comfort of the castle while strengthening its defences. The monument then passed into various hands via weddings, inheritances and sales, with works attested in 1764 by a lintel. The French Revolution marked a violent turning point: the castle, whose owners had emigrated, was ransacked, and its towers were shortened to the façades.

Architecturally, the castle forms a quadrilateral flanked by four cylindrical towers with flat roofs, with three wings and a wall supporting a gallery overlooking the courtyard. A stairway of honour serves the upper floor, and the facades have door windows, characteristic of the Renaissance. The remains of the ditches and an outer enclosure, visible in the 19th century, recall its defensive past. Inside, the rectangular stairwell, flanked by a turret, features arches of warheads with prominent edges, while the towers retain murderers and flames for light artillery.

Ranked as historical monuments since 13 July 1927, Mailhoc Castle illustrates the transitions between the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, as well as the upheavals linked to religious and revolutionary conflicts. Its present state, although marked by destruction, preserves significant architectural elements, such as the arches in the middle of the court or the door surmounted by a shielded pediment. Archaeological sources, notably Bruno Tollon's (1982) work, underline its importance in the Tarn heritage.

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