Château de Najac, Medieval castle in Najac, France
The Château de Najac is a medieval castle that sits 200 meters (650 feet) above the Aveyron River. Its inner courtyard is rectangular in plan and defended by towers positioned at the corners and along the walls.
The castle was founded in 1253, following an earlier structure that stood from 1100. Its construction took place under the authority of Alphonse of Poitiers, a major medieval lord.
The Saint-Julien chapel inside the castle is a quiet space where medieval wall paintings remain visible to visitors today. It shows how religious art and fortress life were interwoven during the Middle Ages.
Plan to spend a half day or full day exploring the castle thoroughly. Wear comfortable shoes because the path to the top is steep and the grounds within have uneven terrain.
The arrow slits on the castle are unusually tall at about 6.80 meters high and were designed to hold multiple archers at once. This size was quite rare in medieval castles and reveals advanced defensive thinking.
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