Detailed review by squidge
squidge(42)
Occitanie, France99%
I've lived not far from Roquessels for over 15 years now. I didn't even know there was a castle there until recently. So I was soon compelled to investigate this unknown castle, the Roquesselois peoples' secret.
I love this sort of outing. A nice walk, through the medieval village streets, permanently dominated by the impressive castle tower. Below, vineyards outlined by dense oak forest with just above a hazy horizon line. Hazy due to the distance the eye can't cover, even on a clear day, as the successive valleys are endless. The sound of birds and the occasional tractor, a warm breeze and delicate scents of spring flowers make the short walk up to the castle, a rewarded one.
Roquessels Castle8
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I doubt whether many tourists have been to Roquessels deliberately to see this 10th century castle, neither is it the sort of place you stumble across by accident. It is situated way off any of the main road axes, and the three narrow roads that lead here, go nowhere beyond.
Just a 4 kilometre drive from Faugères, 30 kilometres north of Béziers, Roquessels, which of course takes its name from the Occitan language "roco", or rock, is full of historical and geographical wonders, for such a small "off the track" village of 123 inhabitants.
The 10th century castle is perched above the village, on an abrupt cliff top. Very little remains of the castle itself, which was originally built as a dependency to the impressive convent of Cassan, a few kilometres away. Charged with collecting tithes (taxes) from the baron of Margon, until 1247, when the subjects of Trencavels (a powerful noble family) were released from their pledge of allegiance and submitted to the King of France.
The chapel is intact, as is the castles tower, which is an impressive square, grey stone block tower, where thyme and other wild herbs flourish between the stones, giving it a very authentic look indeed. Needless to say that it has been restored since the 10th century, and more precisely in 1993.
To get to the castle from the village, you just follow the signs for the cemetery, which is at the foot of the 12th century chapel. In front of the cemetery gates, there are a few parking spaces, from where you can take a small path which avoids walking between the tombs. It leads through a small forest, where suddenly, a shady picnic area with a breath taking view opens up in front of you.
There are a couple of orientation maps, to put names on what you can see in this never ending panorama, and to the left, a small path leads to the seriously damaged castle walls, which were said to have been heroically defended, during the religion wars, and more specifically against Simon de Montfort's ravaging army.
A few steps further and you're at the chapel door. The chapels doors are open to the public all year around. Once your vision adapts to the darkly contrasted interior, you'll discover a narrow but high arched ceiling in a solid stone chapel. At the far end, a small stone altar, and three small arched windows. No more than 6 or 7 benches compose the congregation area, and there is a baptism basin, said to be more than 1000 years old.
An odd ladder, on the right side, leads through a very narrow passageway, into the tower. Back out to the doorway, the view from the chapel door, past a huge prehistoric looking rock with multi-coloured fungi covering it, over the vineyards and forest land, is simply fantastic. If you don't come here for the chapel, do it for the view!
