Château de Montferrand, Medieval castle ruins in Saint-Mathieu-de-Tréviers, France
Château de Montferrand is a limestone castle ruin perched on a ridge at 400 meters elevation, with remaining walls and fortifications that show medieval military design. The preserved sections reveal how the original structure was built to defend against attacks.
Built in the 12th century, the castle belonged to the counts of Melgueil before being seized during the Albigensian Crusade in 1215. It escaped demolition under Louis XIV in the 18th century because moving materials from the site proved too difficult.
The fortress was home to a local ruling family whose power shaped the surrounding villages for generations. People from the region still connect this place to their ancestors and the memory of medieval authority structures.
The site has been closed to visitors since 2018 due to rockfall danger and ongoing preservation work. The best way to see the castle is from outside the restricted area, where you can view the ruin from a distance.
The hilltop location made the site so remote and difficult to access that even the powerful King Louis XIV did not spend resources to demolish it like many other castles of that era. This geographical isolation inadvertently preserved the ruin from complete destruction.
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