Photos courtesy of Château de la Caze
This perfectly preserved little castle, built during the reign of Charles VIII, was not designed as a defensive fortification, nor has it ever been attacked.
Soubeyrane Alamand, niece of the prior of Sainte-Enimie, loved a section of land along the Tarn that belonged to her family. Engaged to the sire of Monclar, she had the castle built for them to honeymoon in. The two never had any children, and the property passed to the Mostuejouls family.
Bertrand de Mostuejouls was a renowned swordsman. Named Captain de la Caze, he made a career out of fighting the Huguenots. His daughter married M. de Malian, and their union produced eight girls. Reputed to be very beautiful, the daughters attracted every young man in the district to secret visits in the garden. Portraits of the young ladies are painted on the ceiling of the room in the south tower. (To preserve them, the tower and portraits are not open for general viewing.)
Pamela’s Perspective
The Gorges du Tarn offers some of the most dramatic scenery in France. Sheer limestone cliffs tower straight up from the valley to heights of over 500 meters (1500 feet). Whether exploring the canyon by car or boat, you’ll be awed and delighted by the constantly changing but always breathtaking vistas.
Utterly romantic and welcoming, the Château de la Caze is the perfect hideaway from which to explore the area.
Château de la Caze
A 15th-century castle
Contact
La Malène
48210 Sainte-Enimie
Tel: ++33 (0)4 66 48 51 01
Hotel website
Reserve with Booking.com
Fast facts
19, including 6 suites in an annex and 1 apartment
Double rooms: 150–215 euros
Suites: 185–280 euros
Rates do not include breakfast
Open: mid-April to beginning of November; closed on Wednesdays and Thursdays in April and October
Getting there
The Tarn region is northwest of Montpellier. The château is 5 km. northeast of La Malène on D-907.
What to do
Onsite: swimming pool
Nearby: fishing; canoeing;
hiking; rock climbing
One of France’s first castle hotels, the Château de la Caze opened its doors in the early 1900s.
Beginning its life as a honeymoon castle over 500 years ago, romance still fills the halls and bedchambers.
Tapestries, paintings, antiques, and Oriental carpets grace rough stone walls, vaulted ceilings, stone stairways, and wood, tile, and stone floors.
Each guest room bears the name of a former inhabitant of the château. Most have canopied beds and beamed ceilings and look out onto the river and canyon. The “Soubeyrane” room is especially wonderful, with the length of one wall made up of a series of windows overlooking the Tarn.
The Ferme contains six beautifully decorated suites in what was once the barn.
The best part of Château de la Caze is that it’s family run. Sandrine Lecroq sees to the genuine hospitality you’ll experience here, while her husband, Jean-Paul, is lord of the kitchen.
Something special
Summer music festivals
Concerts in castle chapel with candlelight dinners