Château du Cingle: A Fortified House in France
Site at a Glance
- Rating
- 4.1
- Popularity
- Very Low
- Country
- France
- Primary era
- Medieval
- External website
- Open
- Eras represented
- Medieval, Early Modern
- Civilizations
- French
- Site type
- Military
- Remains
- Castle
On this page4 sections
History
Château du Cingle is a fortified house in Vernas, France, built between the fourteenth and sixteenth centuries. Its architectural development belongs to the long medieval and early modern history of fortified domestic residences in the region.
Part of the château, including a chimney, an exterior elevation, and the roof, has been registered as a French historic monument since 25 April 1975. This status places the protected elements within France’s formal heritage-protection system.
Arts and Music Festival
Since 1989, the courtyard has hosted the Château du Cingle Arts and Music Festival each summer. Paul Crapie, a French cultural organizer who held the rank of Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters, founded the festival. The distinction is a French state honor for contributions to artistic or literary culture.
Remains
The château is formed by three building blocks arranged around a rectangular courtyard. On the west, a tall wall closes the courtyard and incorporates a portal with a semicircular arch. The south wing has two distinct basement arrangements: its western part rises above two basement levels, while its eastern part contains a cellar covered by a barrel vault.
Stair Tower
A semi-projecting tower occupies the southeast corner of the château. It contains a spiral staircase that provides access to the upper floors, linking the building’s vertical levels within the courtyard plan.
