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Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The castle of Pézènes-les-Mines, classified as a Historical Monument, is located in the upper part of the village, surrounded by a wall of fortified enclosures that embrace the contours of the relief. Two doors opened in the 17th century allow access. The ensemble consists of four bodies of buildings organised around a rectangular inner courtyard, protected by two arched doors formerly defended by a drawbridge. Two towers flank the structure: a rectangular tower to the north and a semicircular tower to the south, while in the east, the 12th century Romanesque chapel, integrated into the castle, features a bedside enhanced in the 14th century to serve as a tower. Its door and some bays have a polychrome decoration with basalt inlays.

The castle illustrates an architectural evolution marked by successive additions between the fourteenth and seventeenth centuries. The enclosure wall, towers and defensive systems (archères, bridge-levis) reflect its initial protective role, while subsequent developments, such as the 17th century gates, show an adaptation to residential or symbolic needs. The chapel, the oldest element, highlights the link between seigneurial power and religious, characteristic of medieval fortresses in Languedoc.

The facades, roofs and the enclosure wall were included in the inventory of Historical Monuments by order of 9 July 1981. The site, although partially accessible, retains tangible traces of its defensive and religious past. Its exact address, 2 Chemin du Château in Pézènes-les-Mines (Hérault), and its Insee code (34200) place it in the former Languedoc-Roussillon region, now integrated into Occitanie. The GPS location, considered "a priori satisfactory" (note 6/10), allows to spot it in the village landscape.

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