The Château d'Entrechaux is a ruined

castle A castle is a type of fortified structure built during the Middle Ages predominantly by the nobility or royalty and by military orders. Scholars debate the scope of the word ''castle'', but usually consider it to be the private fortified r ...

in the ''

commune A commune is an alternative term for an intentional community. Commune or comună or comune or other derivations may also refer to: Administrative-territorial entities * Commune (administrative division), a municipality or township ** Communes of ...

'' of

Entrechaux Entrechaux (; oc, Entrechaums) is a commune in the Vaucluse department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southeastern France. Sights and monuments * Château d'Entrechaux, 10th-11th-century castle ruins, open to visitors in summer. ...

in the

Vaucluse Vaucluse (; oc, Vauclusa, label= Provençal or ) is a department in the southeastern French region of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur. It had a population of 561,469 as of 2019.département In the administrative divisions of France, the department (french: département, ) is one of the three levels of government under the national level ("territorial collectivity, territorial collectivities"), between the regions of France, admin ...

'' of France. The castle stands on a rocky peak above the village and is undergoing restoration. From the site, there is a good view of the village and of the surrounding area, extending to the castles at

Crestet Crestet (; oc, Lo Crestet) is a commune in the Vaucluse department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southeastern France. See also * Château de Crestet * Dentelles de Montmirail * Communes of the Vaucluse department The following ...

and

Beaumont-du-Ventoux Beaumont-du-Ventoux (; oc, Bèumont dau Ventor) is a rural commune in the Vaucluse department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in Southeastern France. In 2019, it had a population of 296. The commune wine co-operative "cave" draws on loc ...

. Entrechaux, the Château de Crestet and the Château de Beaumont-du-Ventoux formed an effective lookout network. Mainly dating from the 10th or 11th centuries, the Château d'Entrechaux is actually two castles. Begun around 900, the ''Petit Château'' (Little Castle), with its fortified chapel dedicated to St Quenin and a cistern dug into the rock, was built by the

Bishops of Vaison A bishop is an ordained clergy member who is entrusted with a position of authority and oversight in a religious institution. In Christianity, bishops are normally responsible for the governance of dioceses. The role or office of bishop is ca ...

. During a long period of dispute with the

Counts of Toulouse The count of Toulouse ( oc, comte de Tolosa, french: comte de Toulouse) was the ruler of Toulouse during the 8th to 13th centuries. Originating as vassals of the Frankish kings, the hereditary counts ruled the city of Toulouse and its surroundin ...

, this castle was shared with the village lord. The latter constructed the ''Grand Château'' (Big Castle), below the first, with a square

keep A keep (from the Middle English ''kype'') is a type of fortified tower built within castles during the Middle Ages by European nobility. Scholars have debated the scope of the word ''keep'', but usually consider it to refer to large towers in c ...

more than 20 metres high, a chapel dedicated to St Laurent and several other buildings, surrounded by ramparts. A gatehouse with a ''

bretèche In medieval fortification, a bretèche or brattice is a small balcony with machicolations, usually built over a gate and sometimes in the corners of the fortress' wall, with the purpose of enabling defenders to shoot or throw objects at the attacke ...

'' served both castles. The joint ownership lasted for about 450 years from c.1230. A band of outlaws pillaged and began the destruction of the castle on 9 September 1792. The sale of stones by the municipality and vandalism by inhabitants led to its ruin. The castle was treated as a quarry. The castle is private property. Visits are possible during the summer.Entrechaux
at Vaucluse visites virtuelles website

References

Castles in Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur Vaucluse Ruined castles in France {{France-castle-stub