Château d'Albon
Encyclopedia
The Château d'Albon is a ruined castle
in the commune
of Albon
in the Drôme
département of France. The castle appears as a square tower standing on a motte
.
, extending over the communes of Albon, Andancette
, Anneyron
and Saint-Rambert-d'Albon
. The centre of power was moved from Saint-Romain-d'Albon.
The castle was the cradle of the Albon family's power. The Albons, mentioned in the Carolingian epoch, took the title of count in the 11th century and made the first constitution of Dauphiné
as a territorial principality.
Around the 9th century, a small chapel existed on the site, as well as large silos for the storage of cereals. At the end of the 11th century, the chapel was replaced by a Gothic
chapel, larger and decorated with moulding, painted coverings and stained-glass. The power of the Counts of Albon was very important at this time. They built a "palace", consisting of a large reception hall with large windows (aula) and private quarters (camera). In the 13th century, they built the motte and a keep
, divided into three levels. The tower was originally built in wood, then in molasse
and pebbles like the place. The castle chapel was rebuilt and a new building appeared, possibly a barn that was abandoned after a fire in the 14th century. Finally, the castle was abandoned from the 16th century. In the following centuries, it was used as a quarry with the exception of the tower.
The castle ruins, property of the commune, were added to the list of monuments historiques
by the French Ministry of Culture on 8 March 1982.
Castle
A castle is a type of fortified structure built in Europe and the Middle East during the Middle Ages by European nobility. Scholars debate the scope of the word castle, but usually consider it to be the private fortified residence of a lord or noble...
in the commune
Communes of France
The commune is the lowest level of administrative division in the French Republic. French communes are roughly equivalent to incorporated municipalities or villages in the United States or Gemeinden in Germany...
of Albon
Albon, Drôme
Albon is a commune in the Drôme department in southeastern France.-Population:-References:*...
in the Drôme
Drôme
Drôme , a department in southeastern France, takes its name from the Drôme River.-History:The French National Constituent Assembly set up Drôme as one of the original 83 departments of France on March 4, 1790, during the French Revolution...
département of France. The castle appears as a square tower standing on a motte
Motte
Motte may be:*Motte-and-bailey, a type of construction used in castles*Isaac Motte, an 18th century American statesman*La Motte , various places with this name-See also:* Mote * Mott...
.
History
The castle is located to the east of Saint-Romain-d'Albon in the commune of Albon. It was the main town of the Albon mandate in the Middle AgesMiddle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
, extending over the communes of Albon, Andancette
Andancette
Andancette is a commune in the Drôme department in southeastern France.-Geography:Andancette is located: from Saint-Rambert-d'Albon from Saint-Vallier from Valence-Population:-References:*...
, Anneyron
Anneyron
Anneyron is a commune in the Drôme department in southeastern France.-Population:...
and Saint-Rambert-d'Albon
Saint-Rambert-d'Albon
Saint-Rambert-d'Albon is a commune in the Drôme department in southeastern France.-Population:- International relations:Saint-Rambert-d'Albon is twinned with:* Kernen im Remstal, Germany* Mango, Italy-External links:*...
. The centre of power was moved from Saint-Romain-d'Albon.
The castle was the cradle of the Albon family's power. The Albons, mentioned in the Carolingian epoch, took the title of count in the 11th century and made the first constitution of Dauphiné
Dauphiné
The Dauphiné or Dauphiné Viennois is a former province in southeastern France, whose area roughly corresponded to that of the present departments of :Isère, :Drôme, and :Hautes-Alpes....
as a territorial principality.
Around the 9th century, a small chapel existed on the site, as well as large silos for the storage of cereals. At the end of the 11th century, the chapel was replaced by a Gothic
Gothic architecture
Gothic architecture is a style of architecture that flourished during the high and late medieval period. It evolved from Romanesque architecture and was succeeded by Renaissance architecture....
chapel, larger and decorated with moulding, painted coverings and stained-glass. The power of the Counts of Albon was very important at this time. They built a "palace", consisting of a large reception hall with large windows (aula) and private quarters (camera). In the 13th century, they built the motte and a keep
Keep
A keep is a type of fortified tower built within castles during the Middle Ages by European nobility. Scholars have debated the scope of the word keep, but usually consider it to refer to large towers in castles that were fortified residences, used as a refuge of last resort should the rest of the...
, divided into three levels. The tower was originally built in wood, then in molasse
Molasse
The term "molasse" refers to the sandstones, shales and conglomerates formed as terrestrial or shallow marine deposits in front of rising mountain chains. The molasse is deposited in a foreland basin, especially on top of flysch, for example that left from the rising Alps, or erosion in the Himalaya...
and pebbles like the place. The castle chapel was rebuilt and a new building appeared, possibly a barn that was abandoned after a fire in the 14th century. Finally, the castle was abandoned from the 16th century. In the following centuries, it was used as a quarry with the exception of the tower.
Architecture
The still visible square keep was previously accomanied by a lower court and a castle settlement, protected by a surrounding wall directly linked to the castle.Archeology of the site
- In 1995, a monumental building, for residential use, was discovered in the lower court of the motte, dating from the 11th century
- In 1996-1997 a religious building was discovered, enlarged in the 13th century.
The castle ruins, property of the commune, were added to the list of monuments historiques
Monument historique
A monument historique is a National Heritage Site of France. It also refers to a state procedure in France by which national heritage protection is extended to a building or a specific part of a building, a collection of buildings, or gardens, bridges, and other structures, because of their...
by the French Ministry of Culture on 8 March 1982.