MONTIALOUX CASTLE

The oldest parts—the perimeter wall, the round tower of the main building, and the Saint John chapel—may date back to the 12th century. The successive terraces on which it is built may indicate the presence of a second enclosure. To the north is a square tower used as a dovecote, and to the east, a covered passageway with a barrel vault leads to the courtyard entrance. The main building occupies the entire south side. The castle appears to have been inhabited until 1786. The main building also shows evidence of late 17th- or early 18th-century alterations, notably the remains of a grand staircase. It is already mentioned in ruins during a sale in 1932. Access is fairly easy, but entering the ruins is perilous. The view over the Nize and Bramont valleys, however, makes approaching the site worthwhile.