Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The castle of Saint-Laurent-des-Arbres, mentioned in 1232 as Castrum Sancti Laurentii ab arboribus, was originally owned by the bishops of Avignon. Its history dates back to the tenth century, when the St. Lawrence church (cited in 919 as Ecclesia Sancti Laurentii de Arboribus) was given to Bishop Fulcherius by Laudoyn and his wife Eiglenracla. This gift then concerned only the church and its outbuildings, the castle and the village being acquired by the bishops only in 1232. The Tower of Ribas, of Romanesque origin, and the ground floor of the dungeon (Tour Jacques Deuze) date from the 12th century, while the upper floors, of Gothic style, were added in the 14th century.

The fortress played a strategic role during the Wars of Religion: it was taken twice in 1562, first by the Calvinists, then by the Baron of the Adrets. The church, built around 1150, was fortified in the 14th century to serve as a second line of defense, connected to the castle by a section of wall of enclosure. The current remains include these ramparts, the Tower of Ribas (classified in 1941) and the dungeon (classified in 1892), illustrating the architectural evolution between the Romanesque and Gothic periods.

The toponymy of the village reflects its history: medieval records (Locus Sancti Laurentii de Arboribus) evolve towards its present name from 1550. The site, marked by fish-arrest equipment and mâchicoulis, also bears witness to local fortification techniques. The bishops of Avignon, Suzerans and then owners, exercised their temporal power there until the Revolution, leaving a heritage today protected and emblematic of the medieval Gard.

External links