Sunday April 3, 2016
Only 45km from home, to reach
the Castle of Roquetaillade
classified
historical
monument, 12th and 14th century, located in Mazères (Gironde,
Aquitaine)
Roquetaillade, which mean rock cutting, was initially built
at the order of the
English King Eduard 1, at a time when Aquitaine region was
under English crown.
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Overview from the path of access |
The castle has been lived in by the same family for over 700 years and is fully furnished.
The two fortresses of Roquetaillade are a masterpiece in Aquitaine and the site is one of the most visited in South West France.
This new castle was square in plan with six towers and a
central main tower or keep.
|
Keep view |
The entire structure was restored and transformed by
Viollet-le-Duc and one of his pupils, Duthoit, between 1860 and 1870.
The
extraordinary interior decorations, with its furnishings and paintings, were
created by Viollet-le-Duc and are listed as French Heritage.
St Michael's Chapel was especially dedicated for the Lord who lived in the castle
The drawbridge, always working today, to authorize or cut
the Castle entrance
Roquetaillade Castle was used for shooting films like Brotherhood of the Wolf, the TV Serie Highlander...
and "Fantômas contre Scotland Yard" with Louis de Funes and Jean Marais actors