Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
The 17th century terrace on which the castle is built; the bridge with two arches giving access to the castle; the well and the tank (see Box AB 144): entry by order of 7 December 1987
Key figures
Emmanuel de Timbrune - Sponsor
Reconstructs the castle in the 17th century.
Juste Lische - Architect
Renovate the building around 1880.
Germain Olivier - Restaurant restaurant
Reconstituted the castle in 1931.
Origin and history
Castels Castle, located in Valencia, Occitanie, is a Renaissance-style building built in two major phases: the first half of the seventeenth century and the nineteenth century. Built on the side of a plateau overlooking the Garonne valley, it consists of a central house body framed with two wings in return, themselves flanked by two irregular towers to the north and an imposing rectangular tower to the southeast. Its windows, decorated with flat lintels on caps, and its false mâchicoulis under the roof reflect the architectural influence of the Renaissance. A bridge with two arches in the middle of the hangar, crossing a slope, leads directly to the vestibule from the courtyard, while the communes are located below.
A first castle is attested from the 13th century on this site, but the current building results from a reconstruction in the early 17th century for Emmanuel de Timbrune. The foundations of the walls and the terrace could go back to this medieval era. In the 19th century, around 1880, the architect Juste Lische undertook major changes, including the elevation of the building covered by a dardian roof. A fire ravaged the castle in 1930, requiring a restoration led by Germain Olivier in 1931, which introduced a metal frame and reinforced concrete to consolidate the structure.
The elements protected under the Historic Monuments since 1987 include the 17th century terrace, the access bridge, and a well and tank. These remains bear witness to the successive transformations of the site, mixing medieval heritage, Renaissance and modern adaptations. Post-fire reconstruction has preserved the external aspect while modernizing the internal structure, illustrating a transition between architectural traditions and technical innovations.
