Ancien château de Pons

English translation

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History

Keep tower: second half 12th century; Town Hall: 17th century; The two painted ceilings: third quarter 17th century. The castle seems to have existed since the 10th century. Geoffroy III, lord of Pons, rebuilt it (keep tower). In the 13th century, the town organized itself around the building, surrounded by ramparts (completed around 1230). Becoming a Huguenot stronghold, Pons was besieged and attacked in 1570 and 1574. In 1598, having become a place of safety, Pons was to receive new fortification around the keep tower and the governors were to restore the existing ramparts. In 1621, the town surrendered and the dismantling of all defences was ordered. The castle was partly razed. From 1623 to 1670, work was undertaken to rebuild the castle stripped of its turrets and curtain walls. A narrow building was constructed at the foot of the cliff, on the base of the ramparts and of the old cellars, braced by large arches. Inside, two rooms preserve their painted ceilings. In the south turret, a small room is decorated with Venus on a chariot drawn by a pair of turtledoves, with putti in the spandrels. Coffered ceiling painted in the large ground floor room.