The Château de Bruniquel, situated in the commune of the same name in the Tarn-et-Garonne département of the Occitanie region, is a historical site that offers a glimpse into the past through two distinct castles. The 'château vieux' (old castle), built in the 12th century, is a remnant of the Counts of Toulouse's property. Its keep, the so-called Tour de Brunehaut, is one of the only remaining portions of the original structure.
The 'château jeune', on the other hand, was built between 1485 and 1510, and further remodeled during the Baroque period. It dominates the confluence of the rivers Aveyron and Vère from a height of 90 m. While other parts of the complex have undergone remodeling in the 18th and 19th centuries, the 'château vieux' still retains its 12th-century keep and a 13th-century residence.
Both castles have played a part in film history, with the 'château vieux' serving as a location for the 1975 film Le Vieux Fusil. Photographs showing the filming are displayed within the castle. Today, the site is open to the public from March to mid-November, and the whole area has been classified as a historic monument (monument historique) since 1840 and has recently been restored.
Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons
Written by Nicolo Ciampini
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