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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

Paulin Castle is a fortified building located in Paulinet, Tarn, Occitanie, which has been a historic monument since 1986. Built on a rocky spur overlooking the gorges of the Ulas Creek, it is part of a network of fortifications protecting the banks of the Dadou River. Its origins date back at least to the tenth century, making it one of the oldest castles in Languedoc.

During the Hundred Years' War, the castle was occupied by road companies between 1331 and 1384, who left it only after paying a ransom. In the 16th and 18th centuries, reshuffles transformed the site into a more comfortable residence: the medieval dungeon was preserved, but the ramparts were strewn. A south wing was rebuilt in the 19th century. Since the 1970s, restorations have saved the castle from ruin.

The castle consists of two parts in the shape of L, poorly connected, with non-aligned floors. The oldest house (XVth–XVIth centuries) features meneau openings, cannons and a Gothic chimney decorated with the lion of the Rabastens, an influential Protestant family during the Wars of Religion. The vaulted cellars and the remains of fortifications recall his military past. A written trace of the 10th century and its occupation by the Viscounts of Lautrec (XIIth–XIVth centuries) underline its historical importance.

Built in shale, the fortress melts into the rock, with defensive elements like cannons still visible. Although partially redesigned, the site is evidence of continued occupation since the Middle Ages. Today, it illustrates the evolution of castles into seigneurial residences, while maintaining traces of its strategic role in the region.

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