The ruins of the château de La Chèze sit on a hill in the Ardèche department of France. This site served as a Protestant stronghold, notably between 1621 and 1622, and was later modified in the 18th century to include more comfortable features like chimneys and larger windows.
Tragedy struck on 6 July 1944 during the battle of Le Cheylard, when the castle was set on fire. It remained in ruins until 1989, when the Association pour la sauvegarde du patrimoine boutiérois was created. Supported by the commune and generous donors, the association began a project to save and restore the castle, which continued until 2018.
To preserve the heritage, the association organized annual work sites for volunteers from all over the world. The restoration included adding hoards and bretèches to the structure. Visitors can still see architectural layers from the 15th and 16th centuries, as well as the remains of a drawbridge moat.
Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons
Written by Nicolo Ciampini
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