Travel Guide Chateauneuf-De-Randon

This Gallo-Roman site had been neglected, but the lord of Randon, returning from the Crusades, built his new castle here and left the old one at Signal de Randon. Around the 11th century, Châteauneuf took on the form of a citadel, dominating the region from its altitude of 1,286 m, and controlling the routes from Mende to Saint-Flour and Le Puy. During the Hundred Years' War, the King sent Bertrand Du Guesclin, his famous Constable, to the rescue, to drive out the mercenaries who were ravaging the Gévaudan and Vivarais regions, supported by the English. The warrior laid siege to the citadel, but did not live to see his victory: he is said to have died of congestion in 1380 after drinking the icy water from the La Glauze fountain at l'Habitarelle. All that remains of this place, which often served as a refuge for the inhabitants, is the so-called "English tower", as the château was destroyed by order of Louis XIII during the Wars of Religion, and the stones reused to build the surrounding houses. Much later, in 1828, Châteuneuf honored its liberator by building a cenotaph to Du Guesclin on the site of l'Habitarelle. This was replaced in 1911 by the current cenotaph, a faithful reproduction of his tomb in the Saint-Denis basilica. A statue in his likeness was also unveiled in 1894, and since then, the connétable has extended his protective bronze hand over the village square. In the past, the town was also known for its ancient fairs, which showcased iron and fabric crafts.