Perched on a hillside overlooking the Aveyron River, the Château de Féneyrols stands as a testament to medieval architecture and the region's layered history. Its strategic location on the riverbank once protected an important crossing, blending natural defenses with its formidable structure.
The origins of the château date back to the late 13th or early 14th century, though the surrounding area was first mentioned in records from 1259. The fortress itself was formally documented in 1323 within a charter of rights granted to the villagers. Ownership of the château became notable in 1338, following the death of Raymond de Castelnau, when it was divided between his daughters, Hélène and Hélix, who shared jurisdiction over Féneyrols. During the turbulent years of the Hundred Years' War, the château briefly fell into English hands but was retaken in 1363.
By the 17th century, the structure had evolved into a substantial fort, as evidenced by records detailing 57 rooms distributed across three floors, with spaces ranging in size from modest chambers to larger living quarters. Despite this impressive scale, by 1763, when Antoine de Rous, a prominent treasurer from Montauban, acquired the property, he described the château as 'old and dilapidated.'
Architecturally, the château retains its medieval fortified character, particularly in the northwest facade, which features timber-framed machicolations resting on tuff stone supports. Over the centuries, the complex expanded to include several additional structures and features, such as an old mill, a raised terrace, remnants of moats, a park, a former orangery, a kitchen garden, a kennel, and agricultural buildings surrounding the central courtyard. A dovecote, a hallmark of noble estates in the region, also remains.
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