Fortified castle located at Espalion, in Aveyron, the castle of Calmont d'Olt still dominates the city and the entire Lot valley today. Classified as a Historic Monument, it was built in the second half of the 9th century on a basaltic dyke at an altitude of more than 500 meters.
Important witness to the architectural transformation of châteaux between the 11th and 15th centuries, the château has undergone many transformations over the centuries, in particular to adapt to technical progress linked to the Hundred Years War.
The site consists of a high enclosure, with an original keep, a main building, two towers, or a low rampart with towers open to the 15th century gorge. From the castle chapel, there is now only a single section of wall in the lower enclosure.
The castle of Calmont d'Olt, which is part of the Route des Seigneurs du Rouergue, offers all year round demonstrations of reconstructed life-size war machines such as a couillard, a trebuchet, a stone pit or bombards. Other activities such as crossbow shooting, sword games or even chain mail manufacturing workshops are also offered to the public.
