Beauvoir-en-Royans Castle, Medieval castle in Beauvoir-en-Royans, France.
Beauvoir-en-Royans Castle is a medieval fortress on the foothills of the Vercors mountains, with remaining defensive walls and a tower rising about 30 meters (100 feet). A connected gothic chapel stands among the preserved structures of the complex.
The castle served as the main residence of the Dauphins of Viennois starting in 1258 until Humbert II ceded the Dauphine to the French kingdom in 1350. This transfer marked a turning point that fundamentally changed the region's political status.
The name reflects the local noble family who once ruled from here, and the layout shows how medieval aristocrats organized their living spaces. Walking through reveals how power and daily routines were shaped by the building's design.
The site is accessible from highway A49 and Saint-Marcellin train station, offering convenient connections from nearby areas. Visitors should expect uneven ground and unpaved paths as this is an open archaeological site.
The grounds include conservation gardens that preserve medieval plant varieties according to principles from the Dauphin era. These gardens show what crops were grown and how they were cultivated during that period.
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