Château des Guilhem, Medieval castle ruins in Clermont-l'Hérault, France
Château des Guilhem is a castle ruin located on Puech Castel hill near Clermont-l'Hérault, built from stone with fortified walls and a prominent tower of the same name. The Guilhem Tower rises above the Hérault valley and offers views across the surrounding landscape.
The fortress was built between the 11th and 12th centuries to control important trade routes through the valley. It was abandoned in the 16th century, which happened to spare it from Cardinal Richelieu's later campaign to demolish fortified strongholds.
The castle was once home to the ruling Guilhem family, whose name it still carries as a mark of their authority over the region. Today visitors see how closely power and land ownership were tied together in medieval times.
The castle grounds are open daily for visitors to explore, though the Guilhem Tower itself has been closed since 2009 for safety reasons. A marked path leads up the hill and provides shaded spots to rest along the way.
The castle's ruined state turned out to be its saving grace when powerful officials ordered the destruction of fortified strongholds in the region during the 17th century. Because it was already crumbling, it posed no threat and was left standing while better-preserved rivals were demolished.
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