Château de Montmaur

Montmaur

West of Gap, in the Buëch valley, the château de Montmaur has overlooked the village of the same name since a construction begun in the 13th-14th centuries. It belonged successively to the Aix-Artaud and Montauban families until 1550, then to the Flotte family, who in 1590 had the round towers characteristic of the present building erected. The d'Agoult, de Montpezat and then Vachon families followed over the 17th and 18th centuries. Two fires during that period seriously damaged the building, costing it two storeys that were never rebuilt, which explains the squat silhouette of the present residence. Xavier Blanc, a lawyer and co-founder of the Club Alpin Français, is also associated with the history of the estate, and local tradition speaks of a stay by François Mitterrand. Restored over more than thirty years by the Laurens family and listed as a monument historique (historic monument) in 1988, the château was acquired by the department of Hautes-Alpes in 2006, which today ensures its conservation and its occasional opening to the public.

Getting there : Visits organised in the summer season by the Department of Hautes-Alpes, about 15 km west of Gap on the Veynes road; car park on site.

Opening times and access details are given as a guide only: check before you set out.

Ambient sound