Château de Vezins

The Château de Vezins is a much-altered castle situated in the "commune" of Vézins-de-Lévézou between Millau and Rodez in the Aveyron "département" of France. It has been in the possession of the Vezins family for 900 years.

The first fortress was built in 1120 by Vesian de Vezins to command the Lévezou district. Following a disastrous fire in 1642, the only remains of this original castle are the vaulted rooms of the ground floor. The castle was then redeveloped in the Renaissance style.

Modern day visitors to the horseshoe-shaped "château" can see the vaulted hall from the Middle Ages and the first floor rooms. Of particular note are the sculpted coats of arms on the chimney places, Aubusson tapestries from the 16th and 17th centuries and a canopied bed.

The "château" was awarded the "prix du Patrimoine 2000" (heritage prize) for the Midi-Pyrénées region. It is one of a group of 23 castles in Aveyron who have joined together to provide a tourist itinerary as the "Route des Seigneurs du Rouergue". Château de Vezinsis listed as a "monument historique" by the French Ministry of Culture.

ee also

* List of castles in France
* Route des Seigneurs du Rouergue

External links

* [http://www.culture.gouv.fr/public/mistral/merimee_fr?ACTION=RETROUVER&FIELD_1=INSEE&VALUE_1=12294&NUMBER=1&GRP=0&REQ=%28%2812294%29%20%3aINSEE%20%29&USRNAME=nobody&USRPWD=4%24%2534P&SPEC=9&SYN=1&IMLY=&MAX1=1&MAX2=100&MAX3=100&DOM=Tous Ministry of Culture database entry for Château de Vezins] fr icon
* [http://www.culture.gouv.fr/public/mistral/memoire_fr?ACTION=CHERCHER&FIELD_5=LBASE&VALUE_5=PA00094238 Ministry of Culture photos]
* [http://www.aveyron.com/seigneurs/vezins.html Tourist information]
* [http://www.seigneurs-du-rouergue.com/nouveau/PresentAnglais.php "Route des Seigneurs du Rouergue" website, with photos] en icon