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Castle founded to control the Regordane road, with rooms furnished with fireplace, hosts the medieval festival of skills
Château de Portes watches over the Cévennes and the ancient Régordane trail. Its architecture blends the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, with two distinct periods of construction, including the triangular, bow-shaped building that earns it the nickname of the "ship of the Cévennes", sailing over the mountains. It was erected in the 11th century to control the so-called Régordane road, a passageway for crusaders to the Holy Land and pilgrims to Saint-Gilles. In the 16th century, Antoine Hercule de Budos, a vice-admiral longing for the sea, had his remarkable and enigmatic 49-degree spur built, making it unique in Europe. The village formerly situated at the foot of the château, threatened by mining activity in the early 20th century, was razed and relocated a little further away. Free parking is now available for visitors.
Visitors can explore the grounds, the three-storey dwellings and the towers, either on their own or with a guide (booking required). The rooms are beautifully furnished, each with a monumental fireplace, and the décor makes it easy to immerse oneself in life in days gone by. A 32 m-high platform offers one of the finest circular views in the area, taking in both Mont Lozère and the Alps, as far as the plains of Alès. Cultural events are also on the agenda, with concerts, shows, storytelling evenings and exhibitions, as well as various activities with a medieval flavour, including the medieval skills festival in August.
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