Château de Valon

The history of Château de Valon is closely linked to the Hundred Years' War. Following the capture of King John II the Good in 1356 and his death in London in 1364, English troops invaded the regions of Rouergue, Carladez, and Haute Auvergne, leaving a trail of destruction. In 1378, the notorious bandit leader Aymerigot Marchès, fighting on the English side, captured the Fortalicium of Valon, among other strongholds. From here, he plundered and extorted the surrounding area. He was later arrested and executed in Paris in 1391. In the same year, a treaty was signed to repurchase the territories occupied by the English. The Gascon captain of Valon at the time, Ramonet de Sort, handed the castle over to his liege lord, Jean III d'Armagnac, Viscount of Carlat. Over the centuries, the Château passed through the hands of various noble families, including those of Valon, Peyre, Rolland, Chaumeil de Dienne, Fontanges, and Verdier de Mandilhac, until it eventually came into the possession of the de Bancarel d'Hyars family.

Valon Castle is situated on a rocky promontory, approximately 538 meters above sea level, overlooking the Truyère Valley and the town of Lacroix-Barrez in the French department of Aveyron by about 300 meters.

Today, the Château de Valon is a ruin, but it is accessible as a museum. After the French Revolution, the castle fell into disrepair, and by around 1845, the roofs had collapsed. Only the keep has preserved its four superimposed halls, connected by a spiral staircase. In 1932, a corner damaged by lightning was restored, and a concrete platform was erected on the keep to secure the structure. The castle was acquired by the Communauté de communes de Carladez and opened to the public. Extensive restoration work has already been carried out, including the renewal of openings and the landscaping of the esplanade in 2003, and the restoration of the left inner courtyard in 2008. A second pedestrian access was created in 2009.

• Château d'Entraygues (castle), approx. 11.8 km away
• Château du Bousquet (castle), approx. 16.5 km away
• Château de Calmont d'Olt (castle), approx. 26.2 km away
• Château de Montrozier (castle), approx. 37.9 km away