Photo by L. Barbe for La Provence Verte. The website features more photos.
The precise origins of the “castrum” are unknown. It first gets mentioned in 1040. It was destroyed in 1150, but rebuilt and occupied until the 15th century. At that date, the village the castle was supposed to protect, Rougiers, was relocated (something that happened a lot in Provence due to karstification) and the castle was abandoned and ultimately fell into ruins.
The location is of particular archeological interest: Rougiers is one of the biggest excavations of an early medieval settlement in France.
What an absolutely perfect landscape for a castle!
Provence is very pretty for sure, a bit overpopulated around the coasts but go a bit more inland and it’s stuff like in the photo everywhere you look. You can also go check some pictures of “gorges du Verdon” for the step up with bigger mountains and turquoise blue lakes.
I wholeheartedly agree. Provence is so pretty and the “Gorges du Verdon” are stunning.
There’s nothing quite like letting your feet hang off the side of a canoe into the refreshing water during a scorching hot sunny day on these lakes. Maybe we should go again this summer during the yearly family visit…
