The Belcastel castle is a medieval castle, built in 9th century, and it grew at the hands of the Belcastel family. Later, for many decades, it was the seat of the famed Saunhac family.
The Château de Belcastel was officially declared a historic monument by the French Ministry of Culture in 1928. The famous French architect Fernand Pouillon (1912-1986) discovered the castle in ruins in 1974. Pouillon decided to reconstruct the fortress, which had been abandoned since at least the 17th century. Pouillon himself undertook the restoration by hand, along with the help of a dozen Algerian stone masons, and 10 stained-glass experts. The work lasted only 8 years and called for great courage from him and his colleagues, due to the enormity of the undertaking, the château's dangerous location, and the fact that no machines were used in the daring reconstruction.
The Château de Belcastel was officially declared a historic monument by the French Ministry of Culture in 1928. The famous French architect Fernand Pouillon (1912-1986) discovered the castle in ruins in 1974. Pouillon decided to reconstruct the fortress, which had been abandoned since at least the 17th century. Pouillon himself undertook the restoration by hand, along with the help of a dozen Algerian stone masons, and 10 stained-glass experts. The work lasted only 8 years and called for great courage from him and his colleagues, due to the enormity of the undertaking, the château's dangerous location, and the fact that no machines were used in the daring reconstruction.
