Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

The Château de Saint-Géry, located on a plateau overlooking the Tarn in Rabastens, was first mentioned in 1229 as property of the local lords. Its strategic position made it possible to control river traffic and monitor the surroundings. In 1349, Philip VI of Valois confiscated him and attributed him to Antoine de Baulat, who began the construction of the parts still visible today, of which a stone with Rabastens weapons bears witness to the original building.

In the 17th century, the castle lost its feudal appearance to adopt Louis XIII-style facades, after the visit of Cardinal Richelieu in 1629, who stayed there in a room preserving his period furniture. An heir to the owners, agent de Richelieu, facilitates this transformation. In 1728, ruined, the estate was sold to Jean-Jacques de Rey, whose son Clement modernized the facade and filled the moats before being guillotined in 1794. His property, returned to his family, preserves the castle from revolutionary looting.

The current architecture consists of three squared houses around a courtyard, with a classic 18th century facade and a 14th century machicolis tower. The chapel, painted and consecrated in the 18th century by the cardinal of Bernis, as well as a terrace overlooking the river, complete the whole. The castle also houses a collection of furniture reflecting successive eras.

The castle, which was partially opened in the summer, welcomed personalities such as Queen Elizabeth II or French presidents. Its history is marked by three family owners over six centuries, a rarity emphasized by historians. The visit allows us to discover its evolution, from medieval origins to classical arrangements, through its role in the networks of influence under Richelieu.

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