Château de Luc
Encyclopedia
The Château de Luc is a ruined castle or château
in the town of Luc
in the Lozère
département, in the Languedoc-Roussillon
région of France
. It was built in the 12th century on a previous Celt
ic site.
The castle, as a strategic point between the two provinces of Gévaudan
and Vivarais
, guarded a link to the south of France of the Auvergne
frequently used by pilgrims of Saint Gilles, also known as the Regordane Way, on which it was a toll-gate.
For the first 100 years or so of its existence it was the home of the Luc family. In the 13th century it became the property of other regional seigneurs. During the Hundred Years' War
it withstood a number of sieges. During the 16th century Wars of Religion
the state of Gévaudan
garrisoned the castle. Around 1630 the castle was dismantled under orders of Richelieu. During the period surrounding the French Revolution
it continued to fall apart from neglect.
In 1878 local parishioners renovated the dungeon (tower) into a chapel, installing a shrine to the Virgin Mary. In that same year, English writer Robert Louis Stevenson
passed through on his travel-adventure, as he recorded in Travels with a Donkey in the Cévennes
:
It remains in ruins today and attracts hikers who re-trace Stevenson's route.
Château
A château is a manor house or residence of the lord of the manor or a country house of nobility or gentry, with or without fortifications, originally—and still most frequently—in French-speaking regions...
in the town of Luc
Luc, Lozère
Luc is a commune in the Lozère department in southern France.The castle-ruin of Château de Luc is located there.-External links:* *...
in the Lozère
Lozère
Lozère , is a department in southeast France near the Massif Central, named after Mont Lozère.- History :Lozère is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on March 4, 1790...
département, in the Languedoc-Roussillon
Languedoc-Roussillon
Languedoc-Roussillon is one of the 27 regions of France. It comprises five departments, and borders the other French regions of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, Rhône-Alpes, Auvergne, Midi-Pyrénées on the one side, and Spain, Andorra and the Mediterranean sea on the other side.-Geography:The region is...
région of France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. It was built in the 12th century on a previous Celt
Celt
The Celts were a diverse group of tribal societies in Iron Age and Roman-era Europe who spoke Celtic languages.The earliest archaeological culture commonly accepted as Celtic, or rather Proto-Celtic, was the central European Hallstatt culture , named for the rich grave finds in Hallstatt, Austria....
ic site.
The castle, as a strategic point between the two provinces of Gévaudan
Gévaudan
Gévaudan is a historical area of France, nowadays situated in Lozère département. It took its name from the Gabali, a Gallic tribe subordinate to the Arverni.- History :...
and Vivarais
Vivarais
Vivarais is a traditional region in the south-east of France, covering the département of Ardèche, named after its capital Viviers on the river Rhône...
, guarded a link to the south of France of the Auvergne
Auvergne (province)
Auvergne was a historic province in south central France. It was originally the feudal domain of the Counts of Auvergne. It is now the geographical and cultural area that corresponds to the former province....
frequently used by pilgrims of Saint Gilles, also known as the Regordane Way, on which it was a toll-gate.
For the first 100 years or so of its existence it was the home of the Luc family. In the 13th century it became the property of other regional seigneurs. During the Hundred Years' War
Hundred Years' War
The Hundred Years' War was a series of separate wars waged from 1337 to 1453 by the House of Valois and the House of Plantagenet, also known as the House of Anjou, for the French throne, which had become vacant upon the extinction of the senior Capetian line of French kings...
it withstood a number of sieges. During the 16th century Wars of Religion
French Wars of Religion
The French Wars of Religion is the name given to a period of civil infighting and military operations, primarily fought between French Catholics and Protestants . The conflict involved the factional disputes between the aristocratic houses of France, such as the House of Bourbon and House of Guise...
the state of Gévaudan
Gévaudan
Gévaudan is a historical area of France, nowadays situated in Lozère département. It took its name from the Gabali, a Gallic tribe subordinate to the Arverni.- History :...
garrisoned the castle. Around 1630 the castle was dismantled under orders of Richelieu. During the period surrounding the French Revolution
French Revolution
The French Revolution , sometimes distinguished as the 'Great French Revolution' , was a period of radical social and political upheaval in France and Europe. The absolute monarchy that had ruled France for centuries collapsed in three years...
it continued to fall apart from neglect.
In 1878 local parishioners renovated the dungeon (tower) into a chapel, installing a shrine to the Virgin Mary. In that same year, English writer Robert Louis Stevenson
Robert Louis Stevenson
Robert Louis Balfour Stevenson was a Scottish novelist, poet, essayist and travel writer. His best-known books include Treasure Island, Kidnapped, and Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde....
passed through on his travel-adventure, as he recorded in Travels with a Donkey in the Cévennes
Travels with a Donkey in the Cévennes
Travels with a Donkey in the Cévennes is one of Robert Louis Stevenson's earliest published works and is considered a pioneering classic of outdoor literature.-Background:...
:
It remains in ruins today and attracts hikers who re-trace Stevenson's route.