The CASTLE of Gordes

The Chateau de Gordes is located in the village centre.

For a thousand years , the castle crowns the village of Gordes. Guillaume d'Agoult , who was one of the earliest ancestors of the powerful feudal family who built fortifications in all the surrounding villages, have mentioned it in 1031. His successors reinforced its protection in 1123, it is called " Nobile Castrum ", the only well known among neighboring castles.

In the middle of the XIVth century, as elsewhere in Provence, the dungeon is enlarge to provide better defenses against incursions by Raymond de Turenne.

Besieged unsuccessfully during the wars of religion, it was the stronghold of the Marquis de Simiane, then the Dukes of Soubise , and the XVIIIth century the Princes of Condé.

The medieval castle was rebuilt between 1525 and 1541 in the own style in the Renaissance under the aegis of Bertrand de Simiane. Since then, the castle has two faces : a very strong aspect of the castle north side and south side of the Renaissance facade.

The imposing building is heavily defended by large round towers which support a crown of battlements terrace artillery, high walls were pierced with three floors of windows "renaissance " is also noticed on the walls, towers and watchtowers, the openings of the guns properly distributed .

The south facade of the castle opens to the sun facing the old town, behind the fountain, an arched door in the wall opens onto a courtyard with magnificent staircase leading to the building.

During the XVIIth and XVIIIth centuries, the castle seems to have been no major changes, its owners living away, merely to collecting revenue from the manor.

About 1789, the revolutionaries seized the castle but do not destroy it .

The castle was once an integral part of village life , with the opening of a café on the ground street since closed.

The castle becomes historical monument on July 4th, 1931 and its round tower on October 28th, 1949 .

The famous artist Victor Vasarely restored the castle in the sixties