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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The dungeon and the remains of La Couvertoirade castle, located in Aveyron, date back to the 12th century. Founded in 1181 after the donation of a farmhouse by the lords Richard de Montpaon and Brenguier de Molnar, the site was developed by the Templars, who built a castle, a chapel and fortifications there in 1249. This castle, in a Romanesque style with flat buttresses, housed a small dungeon with oven, cistern and bedrooms, as well as an entrance steeple inspired by the crusades. It is one of the few Templar castles preserved in France.

After the arrest of the Templars in 1307 and the confiscation of their property, the commandary passed to the Hospitallers of Saint John of Jerusalem in 1312. The latter strengthened the fortifications to protect the local families and added a tower to the dungeon, now partially ruined. The dungeon, on the other hand, remains in excellent condition, with its vaulted rooms, murderers and redent bays, testifying to medieval defensive techniques.

In 1945, the dungeon and remains of the castle were classified as historical monuments. The site illustrates the architectural and strategic evolution of religious military orders, from Templars to Hospitallers, in an area marked by the religious conflicts of the Middle Ages. The church, rebuilt in the 14th century by the Hospitallers, completes this ensemble with its simple nave and vaulted choir, reflecting the regional influence of the era.

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