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Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Château de Montalet, built in the Middle Ages on a promontory at 275 m above sea level, overlooking the Cèze valley and the mining village of Molières-sur-Cèze. Its strategic position made it possible to control access between the Regordane track and the Ardèche valley. The ramparts, without a classical dungeon, were flanked by seven towers, and the whole adopted a shape evoking the wing of a bird. The entrance, protected by a barbacan, placed the attackers under the crossfire of defenders.

The first written mentions of the castle date back to 1199 and 1202, through acts in Latin attesting its possession by the family of Bérard de Montalet. In the 13th century, Arnaud II de Bérard, besieged by the Count of Montfort-L A division between the brothers Arnault and Bertrand in 1248 reveals the existence of an intramural village, with houses, towers, gates and a carriageway. Today, the seigneurial hall, the grain reserve, the honorary hall, the dungeon and a cistern fed by stone ducts remain.

The castle has been under active restoration since 1984. Associative projects, supervised by the Union Rempart, attract international volunteers to transmit traditional know-how. The Association for the Preservation of the Castle also collaborates with educational institutions, such as the school of mines in Alès or the high school Frédéric Mistral de Nîmes, for educational projects (stone size, stained glass windows, geological paths).

The site is open to the public and accessible via marked trails (PR7 of the PDIPR du Gard), including botanical and geological routes. Every summer since 1995, a medieval festival is held on the second Sunday of August, perpetuating the memory of this heritage. The work in progress is aimed at preserving the remains, including the original shaft windows and hydraulic systems.

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