Château de Gicon, Medieval fortress in Chusclan, France.

Château de Gicon is a ruined medieval fortress on a pale rock cliff above Chusclan, at 245 metres elevation. A tall square roofless tower stands at the left, with lower wall sections and small window openings running along the cliff edge to a slightly higher building block. The walls rest directly on the steep rock face above dense vegetation.

The castle was donated in 1156 by King Louis VII to the bishopric of Uzès, and the donation of the castrum de Jocone was confirmed in 1211 by Philip II Augustus. In 1229 it was attached to the French crown by the Treaty of Meaux-Paris. The keep is estimated to have been built between 1200 and 1260, and Louis IX stayed here in spring 1270 before his last crusade.

The fortress connects to local wine producers who have been involved in its restoration since the 1970s. This link shows how regional products and heritage intertwine in this area.

You can reach the castle via a marked path from Chusclan or through a forest road from Vénéjan. The access is fairly straightforward if you follow the signs from either village.

The north-east, north and west walls are of Celtic origin and support a terrace, and a Roman-era paved floor (calade) was found on the site. The castle also controlled the Carmignan ford, where the Cèze was crossed on the road to Nîmes.