Château de Montricoux

Château de Montricoux is a castle in the small town of Montricoux featuring a roughly 20-meter-high tower with four exterior buttresses. The guard room on the ground floor displays geometric frescoes with Moorish patterns, and a barrel-vaulted ceiling connects the lower level to the upper watchtower passages via a spiral staircase.

The castle came to the Knights Templar from monks of the Saint-Antonin monastery in 1181. Following the order's dissolution, the Hospitallers took control of the building in 1332.

The castle houses artwork by Marcel Lenoir, a painter who developed his cubist-influenced style during the early 20th century. His pieces are displayed throughout rooms that reflect how this artistic movement reached rural France.

The castle is accessible during the warmer months with limited openings each week, so plan your visit in advance. Arriving during the day is best, as the structures are viewed by natural light and exterior areas are easier to explore.

The guard room holds a monumental fireplace that shows traces of centuries of use, from its original construction through generations of occupation. This feature reveals how daily life functioned within the castle's walls.