Trécesson

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Shortened history of the castle :

The Trécesson family exists since the thirteenth century and some documentary evidence dates the construction of this castle back in the late fourteenth century.

It is much more likely that a previous building has been completely transformed in the fifteenth century, when Trécesson heiress, around 1440, married one of the most famous ducal officers of his generation, Eon de Carne, treasurer and head of the wardrobe of Duke John V.

One of the legends which haunts the castle is the legend of the "Trécesson Bride". In the eighteenth century, a bride would have been buried alive the morning of her wedding. Who were the murderers? Her own brothers! Two boys, disappointed by their sister's future union. Witnessing the scene, a poacher escaped and ran to tell the horror to his wife. She told him: "Go and tell the lord!". Once discovered, the girl was still alive but a few seconds after, her eyes closed forever. Her veil and her bouquet was long exposed to the castle chapel. And the bridegroom, insulted by everyone for not having taken care of his future wife, was sent into the Army.

Additionnal information and opening times :

The castle is private, sometimes open in July and August for visits (3Eur per person)

Tomar

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Shortened history of the castle :

The castle of Tomar was built by order of the Temple in 1160, during the Reconquista. Inside the fortress is the Convent of the Order of Christ, which consists of all architectural styles practiced in Portugal between the twelfth and eighteenth century.

The castle of Tomar was built on a strategic location on top of a hill near the river Nabão. It has an outer defensive wall and a pentagonal citadel, also fortified with a tower inside. The keep, a central tower to residential and defensive, was introduced by the Templars in Portugal and that of Tomar is among the oldest in the country.

The fortress was part of the defense system created by the Templars to secure the border of the young Christian kingdom against the Moors, which border the middle of the twelfth century, corresponded roughly to the banks of the River Tagus.

According to Christian chroniclers in 1190, the castle of Tomar resisted for six days to the attacks of the Caliph Abu Yusuf Yaqub Almoravid al-Mansur, who had previously taken other Portuguese fortresses in the South the country. This Christian victory is commemorated by the gate of the fortress, nicknamed "the bloody door."

When the Templar Order was dissolved, castles Almourol and Tomar were given to a new order, the order of Our Lord Jesus Christ, founded March 14, 1319.

Opening times and additionnal information :

From June to September : 9am - 6.30pm
From October to May : 9am - 5.30pm

Val

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Shortened history of the castle :

The name of the castle comes from the latin word "vallis" meaning wide valley, because of its location on the Dordogne.

The castle was achieved in 1497 and is today one is one of the most preserved castles of Auvergne. This imposing fortress is surrounded by six towers crowned with impressive battlements.

Past the 19th century, the castle was progressively abandonned, waiting to be submerged by water, since it was in a future dam zone. But in 1953, the local village of Bort-les-Organs saves it by becoming its owner and turns it into a tourist attraction.

After having dominated the valley for several centuries, the Val Castle is today almost surrounded by water, and his ancient park has forever disappeared beneath the waters of the lake.

In 1946, the castle was classified as historical monument.

Opening times and additionnal information :

February, Toussaint and Christmas Holidays : from 2pm to 5.30pm
From the 1st of April to mid-June : from 10am to noon and from 2pm to 5.30pm
From mid-June to mid-September : from 10am to 12.30pm and from 2.30pm to 6.30pm
From mid-September to mid-October : from 10am to noon and from 2pm to 5.30pm

Email : contact@bort-artense.com

Akkerman

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Shortened history of the castle :

The Byzantine fortress was first noted as Asperon, a name deriving from the local Turkish dialect which meant "white". The word "white" as a basis for the name of the city has persisted ever since.

From 1503 to 1918, the city was known as Akkerman, a Turkish word for "white fortress". From 1918 to 1944, the city was known by its Romanian name of Cetatea Albă, literally "white citadel".

In 1420, the citadel was attacked for the first time by the Ottomans, but defended successfully by Moldavian Prince Alexander the Kind. And in 1484, it was the last of the Black Sea ports to be conquered by the Ottomans. The Moldavian prince Stephen the Great was unable to aid in its defence, being under threat of a Polish invasion. The citadel surrendered when the Ottomans claimed to have reached an agreement with Prince Stephen, and promised safe passage to the inhabitants and their belongings; however, most of the city-dwellers were slaughtered.

Major battles between the Ottomans and the Russians were fought near Akkerman in 1770 and 1789. Russia conquered the town in 1770 and in 1806, but returned it after the conclusion of hostilities. It was not incorporated into Russia until 1812, along with the rest of Bessarabia.

In 1918 the city, along with the rest of Bessarabia, became part of Romania. In 1945, the Soviets divided Bessarabia and its southern sides (including Bilhorod) became part of the Ukrainian SSR, and after 1991, of nowadays Ukraine.

Opening times and additionnal information :

Murol

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Shortened history of the castle :

A first fortress was raised on this basaltic promontory in the XIIth century by the family of Murol.

But it's only in 1380 that the castle which we see today was built, by William de Sam. The castle, built at the intersection of three major strategic roads, describes an irregular polygon, whose curtains are completely filled with earth to resist to the artillery.

The castle resisted to the League Wars and was not concerned by the disarmament policy of Cardinal Richelieu. It became a hiding place during the French Revolution and ended as a prison during the 19th century.

Thanks to the Murol family and to an association of passionnates, the castle still stands today even if badly damaged.

In 1958, the castle is classified as Historical Monument and it is only in 1998 that important renovation works are drived by the State.

Opening times and additionnal information:

Castle is open:

April: tuesday, thursday, saturday, sunday (10am to 12.30pm and 1.30pm to 6pm)
May and June: everyday from 9.30am to 12.30pm and 1.30pm to 6pm
July and August: everyday from 9.30am to 12.30pm and 1.30pm to 7pm (closed on 14th of July)
September: tuesday, thursday, saturday, sunday (10am to 12.30pm and 1.30pm to 6pm)
From October to March: saturday and sunday only (1.30pm to 5pm)

Every tuesday and thursday in July and August, a show (with light, sounds and actors) takes place at 8.30pm. The show tells the story of Guillaume de Murol, owner of the castle in the 14th century.
Price: 12,80€ for adults and 8,20€ for children.

Entrance price for the castle with a guide (duration of visit: about 1h30min)
Adults : 7,80€
Children : 6,20€
*entre 5 et 12 ans

Email : contact@chateaudemurol.fr

Aguilar

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Shortened history of the castle :

The castle of Aguilar dates back to the year 1020 and its name seems to be linked with the latin word "aquila" meaning "eagle".

After the crusade against the Albigeois, the castle falls into the hands of the french King. It is in fact for the french army a strategical position because it stands just in front of the recent border with the Aragonese Territory.

In 1260, the castle becomes a royal fortress, and is considered as one of the 5 sons
of Carcassonne.

Unfortunately, in 1659, the Treaty of the Pyrénées drives the franco-spanish border along the Pyrénées ridge.


Opening times and additionnal information :

The castle is open
- from the 1st of April to the mid-June (10am-6pm)
- from the 19th of June to mid-September (9am-7pm)
- from the 11th of September to mid-November (11am-5pm)
The castle is closed from mid-november to the end of March.

Entrance Prices :

Adults : 3,50 €
Children (from 10 to 15) : 1,50 €
Under 10 : FREE
Groups (from 10 persons on reservation only) : 11,50 €/person

Email : communedetuchan@wanadoo.fr