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Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

Beaucaire Castle, nicknamed Bellicadro, was built in the 11th century at the time of the first crusades. It is mentioned for the first time in 1216 during the siege of the city, where besieged people used ingenious defence techniques, such as burning pots of tar (alquitran) to counter enemy devices. This conflict is mentioned in the Song of the Albige Crusade, highlighting its strategic role in regional tensions.

During the reign of Saint Louis, in the 13th century, the castle was renovated into a powerful citadel. It became the framework of a historic treaty on 7 May 1251, ending the differences between Avignon and Alphonse de France, Count of Poitiers and Marquis de Provence. These events illustrate its political importance in the medieval Midi.

Over the centuries, the castle suffered several sieges: in 1385 by Italian, gasconic and English troops, then in 1419 by English and Bourguignons, repulsed after setting up sieges. His decline began in 1632 when Cardinal de Richelieu ordered his partial dismantling. Today, there are only ruins, including a unique triangular dungeon, classified as a historical monument since 1875.

The building houses the chapel Saint-Louis, a remarkable example of Romanesque architecture, and offers stunning views of the Rhône and Tarascon Castle, located opposite. Prosper Mérimée praised the quality of its ogival vaults and its atypical plan. Managed by the community of communes, the site offers visits, historical reconstructions and an escape game inspired by the legend of the Drac.

Initially, the Languedoc-Roussillon flag floated alongside the tricolor flag, but its withdrawal in the 2010s reflects regional administrative changes. The castle, although partly in ruins, remains a symbol of the Occitan medieval heritage and a place of memory of the conflicts that marked the south of France.

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