Visited in 2021
Duration of visit: 1,5 hours
Château des Pierres Volées
Somewhere hidden in a French forest lies an idyllic castle. It is a ruin, of which only a tall tower and some walls are still standing. In the 12th century a count built his château here. A few centuries later it was reconstructed, but over the years (and due to the French Revolution) it turned into a ruin.
Near the end of the 18th century it was sold to some local farmers which tore down some of the walls and used the stones to construct their farmstead.
Only decades later the local authorities realised the value of the heritage, but due to instability caused by the deconstruction other parts collapsed as well. Today only the western wall (with remains of a fireplace), central tower and some inner walls are still standing.
The entrance of the tower is decorated with gothic elements, it must’ve been a beautiful château in its heyday. Despite the one meter thick wall, huge cracks are running through the ruin. It is simply a matter of time before the leftover parts will collapse.
