Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

The castle of Saint-Jean-du-Gard, located in the Gard, was originally mentioned in 1314 as the castle of Saint Jean de Gardonnque. In the 14th century it belonged to local lords and was restored in 1397 by order of a compoix. In the 15th century, John III of Mirols, Baron of Moissac, acquired part of the land, before his heirs yielded barony to the Saint Bonnet in the 16th century. The latter, allied with Caylar and descendants of the Bermonds, marked the history of the castle by their Protestant commitment.

In 1560, the castle was set on fire by Honorat de Savoie, lieutenant general in Languedoc, in retaliation against the Saint Bonnet, Protestants as a large part of the Cevenole nobility. Reconstructs shortly thereafter, it will even house a Protestant temple dedicated in 1569 on its northern facade. The Wars of Religion (1620-1629) saw Jean de Saint Bonnet receive several times the Duke of Rohan, leader of the Reformed. In 1652, in debt, Henry de Saint Bonnet sold the castle to Edouard de Carlot, which expanded and added a 40-metre south wing.

In the 17th century, the castle became a strategic place during the persecutions against Protestants. In 1685, after the revocation of the edict of Nantes, his temple was razed and the castle transformed into a royal garrison, sheltering prisoners like Pastor Roman, famous for his escape. During the Camisard War, he welcomed figures sent by Louis XIV to pacify the Cevennes: Basville (intendant of Languedoc), the Count of Broglie, the Duke of Noailles, or the Marshals of Montrevel and Villars.

The castle changed hands several times: from Carlot to Vignolles-Montvaillant, then to Hostalier, councillors at the Montpellier Court of Accounts, who kept it until 1816. He then passed to the Dupuy de Montbrun, then to the descendants of Girard de Coehorn, before being sold in 1995 to Marie Françoise and Bernard André. Since October 2022, it has been run by Alice and Maxime Rigaud, who organize cultural events there.

External links