Jaujac, Ardèche

Opening : From Saturday 20 to Sunday 21 September 2025.
Several tour slots available on Saturday and Sunday: at 9:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 2 p.m., 3 p.m., and 4 p.m.

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Guided tour of the interior by members of the families who own the château. Approximate duration 30 minutes. Self-guided tour of the area around the château. Some parking spaces available. Access possible by footpath from Jaujac (1 km).

Parking spaces are available free of charge, but if the weather permits, walking up from the village of Jaujac is a pleasure (1 km via the shortest marked path; see the walking map).
Information on road and walking access
We apologise, but the upper floors are accessed by a spiral staircase that is not suitable for wheelchair users.
If assistance is required, please do not hesitate to ask the guides or other visitors.
Smoking is not permitted during the visit.

Le Bruget is a house maintained by families who love old buildings and strive to preserve it for their own enjoyment and yours. Construction of this building was completed at the end of the 16th century. It was listed in the supplementary inventory of historic monuments in 1954 to preserve its beautiful architectural features, such as its five monumental fireplaces and the toric vault crowning the spiral staircase.

The château has belonged to the same family for two generations. The current château is believed to have been built by the La Tour de Beins family in the 17th century, on top of older remains. It then passed to the de Launay family.
Emmanuel de Launay, the famous Count of Antraigues, sold it in 1780 to a lawyer from Jaujac, Aimé Monteil. Confiscated as national property during the Revolution, it was converted into a farm and saved from ruin in the 1930s by Georges Balaÿ and his two sisters. It underwent restoration work at that time, including consolidation of the façade, repair of the windows and rebuilding of the large fireplace. The château occupies a dominant position on the mountainside above the valley. Its layout is identical to that of the Château de Hautsegur (located in the neighbouring commune of Meyras): a rectangle, flanked by two towers to the north and, to the south, a round tower set into the façade containing the staircase. This tower may be older than the south façade and date from the 14th century, like the west façade and the north-west corner tower. The south façade facing the valley has several rectangular windows and arrow slits. A stone engraved with a coat of arms was found in 1985 above the entrance door; it is believed to be the arms of the La Tour de Beins family. Numerous Masonic symbols are scattered throughout the building (text by Bernard De Brion).

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