Château de la Paluelle, Historical castle in Saint-James, France
Château de la Paluelle is a Louis XIII style castle in Saint-James featuring a central section with large windows and three high dormer windows with rounded pediments. The building is flanked by two pavilions with mansard roofs and surrounded by a terraced courtyard and park grounds.
The original manor, built in the 14th century as Manor of Granges, came into the possession of the La Paluelle family in 1530 through marriage to Jeanne de Bézier. The transformation in Louis XIII style shaped the building's appearance in the centuries that followed.
The kitchen from the 17th century in the basement of the central pavilion still shows its large fireplaces, a bread oven, and a granite cooking range that speak to the daily life of former inhabitants. These rooms give a direct sense of the domestic work and craftsmanship of past times.
The facades, roofs of the castle and outbuildings, terraced courtyard, and park have been protected as historical monuments since 1967. Visitors should be aware that access to these protected areas may vary depending on the season and local weather conditions.
The castle park contains a large fountain and a double revolution staircase that conceals a grotto from the 16th century. This hidden staircase connects different levels of the grounds and reveals a surprising architectural feature from earlier times.
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