CHATEAU DE PRADES

The castle of Prades is located in the village of the same name, near Sainte-Enimie in the Gorges du Tarn.

Castle built at the beginning of the 13th century. In 1283, it became the property of the Abbey of Sainte-Enimie for defensive purposes. During the Wars of Religion, Captain Merle attacked the castle where the prior of Sainte-Enimie resided. The castle resisted the Protestants and stopped their advance towards the west. During the Revolution, the castle was sold as a national asset.

Planted on a spur, the building dominates the Tarn gorges. It consists of a main building to the south and a chapel to the north, both linked by a surrounding wall which also existed to the north and west, delimiting an inner courtyard. The north facade of the main building is flanked by two small, low, lean-to buildings. To the left of the entrance porch is the turret of the spiral stairway. On the north-west corner stands a large square tower. Inside, only the ground floor has preserved some old features.

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