Located in the department of Ardèche, on the heights of the eponymous medieval town, the castle of Largentière is an old 12th century building now listed as a Historic Monument. Property of the municipality, it was originally used to control the Chemin des Tauriers, but also the northern access to Jaujac, La Souche or Valgorge.
Raised by the bishops of Viviers, the square tower had a defensive role, but also a safe deposit box for the silver drawn from the neighboring mines. It is the latter which gave its name to the municipality of Largentière. Transformed into a court and a prison during the French Revolution, the castle became a hospital in the middle of the 19th century, seeing its architecture undergo a major transformation.
The building is engaged in a restoration process, but it is still not accessible to the public all year round. It will become a campus for hotel, catering and tourism professions.
