Château de Lourdon, Medieval castle ruins in Lournand, France
Château de Lourdon is a medieval castle in Lournand built on a trapezoidal platform with distinctive remaining structures. A half-destroyed circular tower rises in the southern area while the Powder Tower anchors the northern section, with foundation walls still visible throughout the site.
The earliest fortress was mentioned in the 9th century and gained regional importance when the Count of Mâcon donated it to monk Bernon around 910. This gift made it an administrative and political center that influenced the area for centuries.
The castle served as home to noble families who shaped life in this region for generations. Local people gathered here for markets and administrative matters that affected their daily lives.
The site sits within a large wooded park that provides a quiet setting for exploration and walking. Volunteers maintain the grounds regularly, ensuring the structures remain safe and accessible for visitors who come to see the historical remains.
The entire grounds are surrounded by a three-kilometer defensive wall that remains largely intact, revealing medieval fortification planning. This outer barrier is rarer to find preserved than the buildings themselves and shows how protection was organized across the wider property.
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