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Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Château du Fort, located in the commune of Chambon-le-Château en Lozère, belongs to the family of Chastel de Pontaut in the 17th century. During the reign of Louis XIV, Gabriel de Chastel, lord of the Fort, of Verrieres and of Ancelpont in Gevaudan, was the owner. Married to Marie de Châteauneuf de Randon, he transferred the estate to their only daughter, Gabrielle Félice, who married Henri Joseph de Beaumont, nephew of Fénelon, in 1690. The latter, military and close to the court, became Marquis du Fort after this marriage.

The Beaumont lineage deeply marks the history of the castle. Henri Joseph, after two other marriages, had a daughter, Louise de Beaumont, who inherited the fiefs and married Jean Antoine de Capellis, Marquis d'Avignon in 1740. Their son, Hippolyte de Capellis, captain of the ship and emigrated during the Revolution, was the last notable owner before the 19th century. The castle, partially protected in the 20th century (registered in 1973, classified in 1984), bears witness to these strategic alliances between noble families of Gevaudan and elsewhere.

The building illustrates the social dynamics of the Old Regime in Lozère: arranged marriages, heritage transmissions and military careers. Its architecture and history also reflect the links between the province of Gevaudan and the national elites, as evidenced by the relationship with Fénelon, Archbishop of Cambrai. Historic Monument Protections highlight its heritage importance, although specific architectural details are not described in available sources.

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