Château de Sommières, Sommières, France

Château de Sommières was probably built in the 10th or 11th century by the Bermond noble family. The castle consisted of two towers: Bermonde and Montlaur, dating back to the 13th century. Only Bermonde tower is intact, Montlaur tower was partially destroyed during the siege of the city in 1573 and later demolished.

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User Reviews

judith mascarenhas (3 years ago)
Peaceful serene

Bob Mulder (3 years ago)
Not too big, which is nice for a short visit. Local history all described in English. View from the tower is impressive, as is the long and narrow staircase to get there.

Izza (4 years ago)
Nice castle. Tower with a view and restored chapel with a film on the castle's history. Good hiking track nearby.

Graham Woosey (4 years ago)
A regular on our motorhome tours in France.

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Before the arrival of Christianity in Sweden, Gamla Uppsala was the seat of Swedish kings and a ceremonial site known all over northern Europe. The settlement was home to royal palaces, a royal burial ground, and a great pagan temple. The Uppsala temple, which was described in detail by Adam of Bremen in the 1070s, housed wooden statues of the Norse gods Odin, Thor and Freyr. A golden chain hung across its gables and the inside was richly decorated with gold. The temple had priests, who sacrificed to the gods according to the needs of the people.

The first Christian cathedral was probably built in the 11th century, but finished in the 12th century. The stone building may have been preceded by a wooden church and probably by the large pagan temple.

Château de Sommières

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