Budos' coat of arms

Erected by the Anduze Barons in the XI - Xll^th Century, it was a guard post to protect the pilgrims taking the Regordane, a Celtic route going from Orléans to St Gilles. The family didn't live in the castle and owned it until the XIV^th.

At the end of the Xlll^th, by marriage and heritage, the castle passed into the hands of the Randon-Polignac family. In 1314, Guillaume de Randon Polignac, in debt, mortgaged Portes. The creditor: the Budos family from Aquitaine became the soul owner of Portes in 1320. They settied here and reorganized the castle. They passed it from father to son.

Raymond Guillaume de Budos, who settled here, was Clement V^th's nephew (first pope in Avignon). At the beginning of the XVl^th, Jean inherited the property. He served François I^st, fought with the king in Italy. When he came back, he added some renaissance elements to the castle. When he died, Jacques, his son, succeeded him. He served five French kings : Henri II^nd, François II^nd, Charles IX^th, Henry III^rd, and Henry IV^th. Under Charles IV^th, he was dubbed a knight of the St Michael Order; under Henry III^rd, the property was raised to a viscounty ; under Henry IV^th, he was dubbed a knight of the Holy Spirit Order.

When seven, his son, Antoine Hercule (born in 1589) went and lived at Court; close to Louis Xlll^th, he was privileged. In 1613, the property was raised to a marquisate. The same year, he was promoted to Vice Admiral of France. He became Lieutenant of the king in Languedoc and Gévaudan. He fought against the Protestants and died in 1629 during the Privas siege.

Before he died, he built the "Château-Neuf'” the new castle, in the South-East corner. This new castle was built in the XVll^th but in the XVl^th style (renaissance). The castle forms a sharp angle (49 degrees), looking like a prow because of Antoine-Hercule de Budos' responsibilities. This point is turned towards Alès, the city of his enemy: the Duke of Rohan (a protestant leader). When Antoine-Hercule died, he left a widow (Louise de Crussol) and two daughters (Marie-Felice, Diane-Henriette).

Marie-Felice, when ten, went into a convent. She took a vow of purity. She left the convent five years later saying that she only wanted to serve God. In order to marry her off, her mother annulled the vow but Marie-Félice took an inalienable second vow of chastity.

Her sister married the Duke of St Simon. Their daughter married the Duke of Brissac but didn't have any children. The niece and the sister of Marie-Félice died before her. She fought against the Protestants and died in 1693.

The Princes of Conti (younger branch) inherited Portes. In 1782, the last of the Conti sold the property in 17 parcels. Louis XVl^th bought it and gave it to his brother, the future Louis XVlll^th. During the Revolution, it was used as a state prison. In 1805, the commune sold it. In 1841, Pagese de la Vernède bought it and restored it in the XIX^th  style.

The castle is still a private property. The castle was undamaged in 1929 but it was ruined because mines dug for coal (during the First World War) caused the foundations to collapse. Since 1968, the association "Renaissance du Château de Portes" (R.C.P.) restores the castle thanks to volunteers.

The castle was declared an ancient monument in 1984.

text : © RCP/TASPLP