CastleSainte-Enimie - Hauterives

Château d'Hauterives

The remains of the Castle can be visited

Hauterives Castle is a castle located above the eponymous village, in the commune of Sainte-Enimie in Lozère, France. Formerly the capital of the viscounty of Hauterive, it is now in ruins (it was already so in 1724), and difficult to access, as no road leads to the village of Hauterives.

Location+

The castle is located in the commune of Sainte-Enimie and overlooks the Gorges du Tarn. It is built above the village of Hauterives (sometimes spelled Hauterive), on the left bank of the Tarn. No road provides access to the village; a system of ferries allows crossing the Tarn, and a cable car over the river is used for transporting goods and mail. Several paths, coming from Sainte-Enimie or La Malène, also allow reaching the village and the castle.

History+

Built in the 12th century by the lord of Séverac-le-Château to protect, among other things, the Causse Méjean, the castle, along with the land of Séverac, came into the possession of the Arpajon family in 1508, who had already held the lordship of Séverac-le-Château since 1385 through the marriage of Hugues d'Arpajon with Jeanne de Severac. According to M. Monestier, it was Gui I d'Arpajon, then living, who first styled himself Viscount of Hauterive; according to the History of the Great Officers of the Crown, it was Jean III d'Arpajon, his son, living in 1514. The lordship of Arpajon was one of the twelve noble lordships granting entry rights to the particular estates of Gévaudan. It was destroyed between 1629 and 1634.

Appendices+