Originally, Château de la Selve was a fortified house first on the frontier of the Empire and then of the Kingdom of France.
It then became the hunting lodge of a famous family from the Vivarais, the Dukes de Joyeuse, before being transformed, century after century, into a farm.
Built during the 13th century, it has the typical architecture of all houses and castles of the Bas-Vivarais.
Located on the bank of the Chassezac, the main Ardèche’s tributary, it benefits from a unique and protected environment.
In 1990, this magnificent house became the property of my parents, Jean-Régis and Magdeleine Chazallon. Today, a wing of the castle has been converted into five Gîtes de France (from 3 to 6 persons). In a large yard planted with trees, they offer a heaven of peace in the heart of the increasingly toured Ardèche.
http://sourgrapeswine.com/chteau-de-la-selve/

Château de la Selve 

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Château de Chambonas is in the town of Chambonas in the Ardèche department.The castle order and defends the passage of Chassezac flowing below and is spanned by an old Roman bridge in view of the terraces of the park. From the eleventh century, there arose a tower that was incorporated in later constructions. This would be the north tower, rebuilt to the current building. The land was originally an ecclesiastical fiefdom. Its owner, the bishop of Uzes, donated to the abbot of Saint-Gilles that called for monitoring of the ford (later replaced by the bridge) a knight of La Garde-Guérin. This became the first Lord of Chambonas. The estate remained in the family until 1808. The castle is a fortress from the fifteenth century, several times enlarged and modified, for example during the religious wars of the sixteenth century (especially fratricidal Vivarais): Chambonas then received additional towers and battlements intended to make a stronghold and give him no doubt its current appearance. Afterwards were built terraces and gardens including drawing, according to tradition, is due to Le Nôtre. Sources were captured at half a league from there to feed the fountains. Then the interior design was the subject of extensive work in the course of the eighteenth century. The Marquis de Chanaleilles, by act of 13 February 1808 bought the castle of Aloph, Charles de La Garde Chambonas, son of the last foreign minister of Louis XVI, Scipio, Charles Victor, Auguste de La Garde, third Marquis of Chambonas. The latter was ruined (including game), had incurred huge debts and his son had no choice but to sell the castle and its lands to resolve the situation of his father. In the nineteenth century, Chanaleilles, restored forty years the castle that served as garrison to an infantry company between 1792 and the date on which they had acquired. Without distorting its strong home side, a wing was added, built with materials identical to those of the main body; a gatehouse was added above the door, which the bosses reminiscent of the beautiful gate of the castle of Aubenas. The estate remained in the offspring of Chanaleilles until about 1970. It was then sold and resold after new interiors and restoration of lawns.
http://www.frenchchateau.net/chateaux-of-rhone-alpes/chateau-de-chambonas.html

Château de Chambonas

The Chateau des Roure was a strong point on the ancient route by the Pont d’Arc. In the 11th century, a Viraco tower belonging to the Benedictine monks of Virac was mentioned.
It dates back to the end of the 14th/beginning of the 15th century. It belonged to the family of Pierre de Beauvoir de Grimoard du Roure until 1825; then to the Pradier family, whose descendants are the present owners. An important site during the wars of religion, the chateau welcomed the Duc de Rohan (the Huguenot leader) in 1628.
In 1629. Louis XIII and Richelieu ordered the destruction of the defenses of the chateau and of the ramparts of the village. After the Edict of Nantes was revoked in 1685, the Count of Roure renounced the Protestant faith and became Catholic.
During the Camisard revolt in 1703, Jean Chevalier (their leader) attacked the Chateau de Roure and burned the village church.
The Chateau de Roure has been open to the public since 1975 and was classified as a Historic Monument in 1978. From October 2013 till March 2016 important restoration was carried out to return the Chateau des Roure to its original appearance before 1629.
New rooms were opened to the public in Spring 2016.
https://www.chateaudesroure.com

Château des Roure

Porte renaissanceThe mason become a castle-owner restores alone this building since 1998.
“Mons Regalis” the royal mount (because its dominating position, puts up at 289m high, its donjon dating from the end of the 12th century. The only witness of this time in this country and its castle dating from the 13th and 16th centuries.
With its magnificent inner Renaissance courtyard, its mullioned windows, hanging balconies, gread screw staircase and vaulted rooms, Montreal is one of the best fleuret of the castral crown of Largentiere, with the castles of Brison, Chassiers, Tauriers, Fanjau (destroyed) Vinezac and Uzer, it kept watch over the silver mines of Largentiere. The bishops of Viviers, Lords of these mines stroke coins in the Middle Age.
From the 13th century to the 19th century several states can be identified. Belong to the first state the 23 meters donjon a narrow masonned mantle-wall and a seigneurial home (aula).
1345, the Romanesque castle built by the Montreal Family, becomes by marriage the possession of the Balazuc Family. At the And of the 14th century a second enceinte more extensive than the first one, having the same plan, and a large building in L are built against the new enceinte. In the 15th and 16th centuries, the castle knows important modifications. Four three levelled wings, a staircase tower and outside galleries are built. 1636, Montreal becomes again by a marriage, the possession of the Hautefort de Lestrange Family, who opens the great entrance door, and in 1665 orders magnificent Aubusson tapestries in the loving memory of their ancestors, the knights Gontaud de Biron and Pons de Balazuc who took part in the first crusade. 1742, the Merle de Lagorce Family inherits the castle. In 1775, it sells the castle with the donjon and the Joyeuse tower to a certain Simon Lapierre of Montreal who makes of it a vast farm house…
Nowadays, the present owner, Hubert Fenestrier, a mason, fascinated by old buildings, patiently, lonely restores this building in order to open it to visitors.
In summer, medieval animations are set up : theatrical visits, medieval costumes and workshops can help you to discover the medieval know-how and manners.
http://www.chateau-montreal.com

Château de Montréal

This is the eleventh century the lords of Balazuc, powerful family who ruled the Bas-Vivarais, built a tower along the wall that surrounded the village. It was gradually expanded in the thirteenth century. Some famous people include Balazuc Pons, who joined the First Crusade and was killed at the siege of Archas (today Tell Arqa, in north Lebanon), just before the capture of Jerusalem in 1099.
The Overlords Balazuc always remained loyal to the king of France, which explains that, during the religious warfare, the village remained Catholic in the midst of a land that had largely converted to Protestantism. During the French Revolution, the Marquis de Vogüé, whose family had inherited the castle, took flight. Irony or lightness, the castle was sold « by candle » in 1793, and for the sum of 625 pounds (about 3125 euros today). Just a little more than the price of the village oven and forty times less than the mill. The buyer’s name was Louis Mollier and from now on the castle was used as a farm.
In the 19th century, as many properties, Ardèche Castle Balazuc becomes a silk farm embodying the golden age of silk production. In 2002, the descendants of Louis Mollier sold the ruined buildings to a couple from Lyon. Daniel and Virginie Boulenger, restored it and made a beautiful guest house, which you know today. In 2011, the castle is purchased by Luc and Florence Lemaire. In a thousand years, this is only the third time that it has been sold…
https://chateaudebalazuc.com

Château de Balazuc

The Castle of Largentière, sitting on top of the medieval village, cannot be visited. It belongs to the municipality and is managed by the association Au Delà du Temps that animates it from July 9 to August 24 during the shows "Le Temps des Chevaliers".
In the center, there's a square tower, called "Bastide de Bonnegarde" from the 12th century. 
At the 15th century, under Episcopate of Jean de Montchenu, the castle has been extended. 
From 1716 to 1723, the count of Brison rebuilt the castle inside and outside. During the Revolution, the castle had many functions: first it was a tribunal, then a jail and finally a state police force. 
On June 13th of 1847, the municipality bought it and used it as an hospital – hospice. From 1858, works were executed in order to renovate the castle and make it taller.
In 1996, a new hospital – hospice has been built in Largentière and the renovations of the castle have started.
Today, the castle is open in summer for exhibitions or the medieval campsite organized with "Au Delà Du Temps" troup.
https://en.ardeche-guide.com

Château de Largentière

The origins of the Château de La Verrerie date back to 1422.
In this year, King Charles VII gave the County of Aubigny to John Stuart, Count of Darnley and Constable of Scotland, in recognition of his loyal services during the Hundred Years’ War in the battle against the English.
A small glass lakeside glass factory, which was demolished in 1815, inspired the name of “La Verrerie”.
However, the château was not built until the end of the 15th century, at which time Béraud Stuart, the grandson of John Stuart, returning from a campaign in Italy, constructed the main house to the side of the Chapel, that joined onto the Renaissance Gallery, which was built in 1525 by Robert Stuart, the son-in-law of Béraud Stuart and a comrade-in-arms of Bayard.
In 1670, the last Stuart of Aubigny died and the Château de La Verrerie, as laid down in King Charles VII deed of donation, was returned to the French crown.
King Louis XIV, acting on a decree of 18 March 1673, gave the land back to Charles II, King of England, who was the direct male descendant of John Stuart. In the same year, at his request, it was given as a gift to his mistress, Louise de Kérouaille, Duchess of Portsmouth.
In 1734, the Duke of Richmond, son of Louise de Kérouaille and Charles II inherited the seigniory, raised to a duchy-peerage.
In 1842, the heirs sold the Château and the land of Aubigny to Léonce de Vogüé, the ancestor of the current owners.
In 1895, Marquis Louis de Vogüé built the south wing which now houses the reception rooms and most of the bedrooms.
In 1962, Count Antoine de Vogüé, who had then been Mayor of Oizon since 1953 – and who would go on to become the Cher departmental councillor in 1964 and was re-elected to both positions – settled permanently in the ground floor of the north wing.
In 1965, he opened the château to visitors and joined the Route Jacques Cœur association.
In 1978, his wife, Countess Antoine de Vogüé, opened the ‘La Maison d’Hélène’ restaurant. In 1982, she started welcoming guests to the chambre d’hôtes. She now lives in the large house to the rear of the restaurant, known as the ‘Gros Chêne’.
In 1993, their son Count Béraud de Vogüé and his family took over the family business on their return from Canada and the USA.
The only owner of La Verrerie to have been born there, he works relentlessly to promote La Verrerie and other private châteaux that belong to the association ‘La Route Jacques Cœur’, over which he presides.
Every winter, the association ‘Les Amis du Château de La Verrerie’, which was founded in 1999, organizes concerts in the Grand Salon of the Château.
http://www.chateaudelaverrerie.com

Château de Vogüé

The Château d'Allègre is a ruined castle in the commune of Allègre in the Haute-Loire département of France.
The ruins consist of two corner towers of the former keep, joined by a section of machicolation and round walk, and the base of a tower in the enceinte.
The castle was the seat of the second barony of Auvergne. It was constructed towards the end of the 14th century with three fortified enceintes. It was built by Morinot de Tourzel, a favourite of the Duc de Berry, using plans drawn up by the architect Hugues Aubriot, architect of the Bastille.
The castle underwent several sieges during the Hundred Years' War and, in 1593, the war against the Catholic League. It was burned down on 15 November 1698.
The castle has been the property of the commune since the French Revolution and has been used as a source of building material. It has been protected since 1935 as a monument historique by the French Ministry of Culture.

Château d'Allègre

The Château de Portes is a castle located in the commune of Portes in the Gard département of France. It overlooks the Regordane, an ancient avenue used by the pilgrims of Saint-Giles and the Croisés on their way towards the Holy Land for a distance of ten miles. The Anduze, Randon and Polignac families paid homage to the abbot of Saint-Pierre-de-Sauve for this castle between the 11th and the 14th centuries. The castle is listed as a monument historique by the French Ministry of Culture.
History
Raymond Guillaume de Budos, the nephew of Pope Clement V, bought the seigniory in 1322, and added at least two additional flanks to the castle in 1384. Thibaud de Budos recovered the castle after deposing his father André, who had joined with the English at the beginning of the Hundred Years' War.
The seigniory became increasingly rich and powerful until Louis XII set it up as a marquisat in favour of Antoine Hercules de Budos, to whom is undoubtedly owed the form of the present castle. His father was a bishop of Agde, one of his sisters a duchess of Montmorency, and another the abbess of "l'Abbaye des Dames" (The Abbey of Dames) in Caen. The Maréchal-de-Camp was killed in the siege of Privas in 1629. His daughter, Marie-Félice, left the castle as an heirloom to her nephew, Prince de Conti, in 1693, whose descendants sold it to Louis XVI in 1781.
With the French Revolution, the castle was nationalised and sold to six successive owners. In 1841, in the hands of the Vernede family, the monument was restored from its decrepit condition.
In 1929, following the intensive exploitation of the coal mines under the site, the ground broke down ruining the castle and forcing its evacuation. The village was rebuilt about 300 metres further. Circa 1960, the grounds were stabilised and in 1972 an association was formed to recover the castle. It has been classified as a historical monument since 1984.
Architecture
The castle has a singular architectural style among castles in Europe because of its 49 degree spurs in the shape of a ship's bow, which earned the castle its nickname of a vessel in the Cévennes (French: un vaisseau en Cévennes).