This is the closest ruin to our French house. It's down a cart track past an old cemetery at the bottom of a valley.
First mentioned in 1542 as the property of Jean Fayolle whose family built the chateau in 1610. Purchased in 1633 by the Dufraisse family, it became an industrial site (forging mill) with the place having mixed fortunes until it's closure in 1860.
The chateau was destroyed by fire 'accidentally' in 1932 with bad the weather in 1992 adding to it's woes as one entire building seems to have disappeared into the river.
Just as you enter the actual site there is an indecipherable map showing all the structures and giving a potted history (in French). Seems that most or even all the early industrial stuff has gone and what is left is full to the first or even second story with rubble from the upper rooms and roof.
Pictures
The map ~ I stood at the point where it said I was and nothing was where the map indicated..........
Les Forges du Gandomas 26 by Infraredd, on Flickr
Front of chateau.
Les Forges du Gandomas 01 by Infraredd, on Flickr
Security measures.
Les Forges du Gandomas 02 by Infraredd, on Flickr
Warehouse?
Les Forges du Gandomas 03 by Infraredd, on Flickr
Les Forges du Gandomas 04 by Infraredd, on Flickr
Stairs & entrance to first floor.
Les Forges du Gandomas 05 by Infraredd, on Flickr
Looking down into the shell.
Les Forges du Gandomas 06 by Infraredd, on Flickr
How it looks from the back ~ it's all (Chateau included) built into the side of the hill.
Les Forges du Gandomas 07 by Infraredd, on Flickr
Think this was once the grand entrance to the Chateau
Les Forges du Gandomas 08 by Infraredd, on Flickr
Inside
Les Forges du Gandomas 09 by Infraredd, on Flickr
Les Forges du Gandomas 10 by Infraredd, on Flickr
Les Forges du Gandomas 11 by Infraredd, on Flickr
Interesting but very tight and unsafe entrance to the ground floor.
Les Forges du Gandomas 12 by Infraredd, on Flickr
This was the one remaining upper room
Les Forges du Gandomas 14 by Infraredd, on Flickr
And below it the one remaining lower floor room
Les Forges du Gandomas 15 by Infraredd, on Flickr
Out the back through this hole
Les Forges du Gandomas 13 by Infraredd, on Flickr
First floor on a level with the ramparts
Les Forges du Gandomas 16 by Infraredd, on Flickr
In colour ~ ceiling seems to be made of pebbles & soil.....
Les Forges du Gandomas 17 by Infraredd, on Flickr
Rear of Chateau
Les Forges du Gandomas 18 by Infraredd, on Flickr
Les Forges du Gandomas 19 by Infraredd, on Flickr
Ramparts above the river
Les Forges du Gandomas 20 by Infraredd, on Flickr
Another room entrance at ground level.
Les Forges du Gandomas 21 by Infraredd, on Flickr
Inside ~ better ceiling this time
Les Forges du Gandomas 22 by Infraredd, on Flickr
Side wall & entrance to Cellar
Les Forges du Gandomas 23 by Infraredd, on Flickr
Cellar
Les Forges du Gandomas 24 by Infraredd, on Flickr
Looking back at Chateau
Les Forges du Gandomas 25 by Infraredd, on Flickr
Out buildings
Les Forges du Gandomas 28 by Infraredd, on Flickr
Bridge across river
Les Forges du Gandomas 29 by Infraredd, on Flickr
Thanks for looking.
First mentioned in 1542 as the property of Jean Fayolle whose family built the chateau in 1610. Purchased in 1633 by the Dufraisse family, it became an industrial site (forging mill) with the place having mixed fortunes until it's closure in 1860.
The chateau was destroyed by fire 'accidentally' in 1932 with bad the weather in 1992 adding to it's woes as one entire building seems to have disappeared into the river.
Just as you enter the actual site there is an indecipherable map showing all the structures and giving a potted history (in French). Seems that most or even all the early industrial stuff has gone and what is left is full to the first or even second story with rubble from the upper rooms and roof.
Pictures
The map ~ I stood at the point where it said I was and nothing was where the map indicated..........
Les Forges du Gandomas 26 by Infraredd, on Flickr
Front of chateau.
Les Forges du Gandomas 01 by Infraredd, on Flickr
Security measures.
Les Forges du Gandomas 02 by Infraredd, on Flickr
Warehouse?
Les Forges du Gandomas 03 by Infraredd, on Flickr
Les Forges du Gandomas 04 by Infraredd, on Flickr
Stairs & entrance to first floor.
Les Forges du Gandomas 05 by Infraredd, on Flickr
Looking down into the shell.
Les Forges du Gandomas 06 by Infraredd, on Flickr
How it looks from the back ~ it's all (Chateau included) built into the side of the hill.
Les Forges du Gandomas 07 by Infraredd, on Flickr
Think this was once the grand entrance to the Chateau
Les Forges du Gandomas 08 by Infraredd, on Flickr
Inside
Les Forges du Gandomas 09 by Infraredd, on Flickr
Les Forges du Gandomas 10 by Infraredd, on Flickr
Les Forges du Gandomas 11 by Infraredd, on Flickr
Interesting but very tight and unsafe entrance to the ground floor.
Les Forges du Gandomas 12 by Infraredd, on Flickr
This was the one remaining upper room
Les Forges du Gandomas 14 by Infraredd, on Flickr
And below it the one remaining lower floor room
Les Forges du Gandomas 15 by Infraredd, on Flickr
Out the back through this hole
Les Forges du Gandomas 13 by Infraredd, on Flickr
First floor on a level with the ramparts
Les Forges du Gandomas 16 by Infraredd, on Flickr
In colour ~ ceiling seems to be made of pebbles & soil.....
Les Forges du Gandomas 17 by Infraredd, on Flickr
Rear of Chateau
Les Forges du Gandomas 18 by Infraredd, on Flickr
Les Forges du Gandomas 19 by Infraredd, on Flickr
Ramparts above the river
Les Forges du Gandomas 20 by Infraredd, on Flickr
Another room entrance at ground level.
Les Forges du Gandomas 21 by Infraredd, on Flickr
Inside ~ better ceiling this time
Les Forges du Gandomas 22 by Infraredd, on Flickr
Side wall & entrance to Cellar
Les Forges du Gandomas 23 by Infraredd, on Flickr
Cellar
Les Forges du Gandomas 24 by Infraredd, on Flickr
Looking back at Chateau
Les Forges du Gandomas 25 by Infraredd, on Flickr
Out buildings
Les Forges du Gandomas 28 by Infraredd, on Flickr
Bridge across river
Les Forges du Gandomas 29 by Infraredd, on Flickr
Thanks for looking.