Château d'Allègre, Medieval castle ruins in Allègre-les-Fumades, France
Château d'Allègre is a medieval fortress ruin positioned on a rocky outcrop and features several stone towers connected by thick walls with narrow openings for archers. The remains display traces of multiple residential sections that were built side by side within the same fortified structure.
The fortress first appeared in written records in 1136 when a local noble pledged allegiance to the Baron of Alès, establishing its role in the feudal network. Over time it evolved into a significant defensive stronghold within the Languedoc region.
The fortress served as a shared space where several noble families lived side by side, each maintaining their own residential quarters within the stone walls. This arrangement of multiple households in one fortified location shaped how the ruins appear today.
The castle ruins are reached via a marked trail that climbs from a parking area near the village up to the remains on the rocky ridge. Comfortable walking shoes are recommended as the path crosses uneven terrain and slopes.
What sets this ruin apart is that it functioned not just as a fortress but also as a residential complex containing a total of twelve separate noble households. This unusual arrangement made the site a fortified village where multiple families coexisted within interconnected stone walls.
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