Château de Vernègues, Heritage castle in Bouches-du-Rhône, France.
Château de Vernègues is a castle ruin perched on a rocky outcrop at the southern edge of a plateau in Provence. The remains feature stonework from multiple building periods and overlook the surrounding countryside and village below.
The castle originates from the 8th century with two early fortifications that served as a regional center. Over the Middle Ages the site underwent successive rebuilding and expansion until a major earthquake in the early 1900s destroyed most structures.
The designation as a historical monument in 1934 emphasizes the heritage value of this medieval structure in Provençal architecture.
Access to the ruins is on foot via a trail from the village, with uneven and rocky terrain in places. Visitors should wear sturdy footwear and be aware that some sections of the ruin are unsafe to enter.
A magnitude 6 earthquake struck in 1909 and devastated the castle and the village below in a single catastrophic event. The ruins preserve traces of this disaster and show the raw destructive force of nature.
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