Queyras Castle

Queyras Castle

Queyras Castle

A castle has stood where Chateau Queyras is since the Middle Ages, but exactly how old it is, no one knows. By the 1300s it belonged to the French royal family. In 1587 during the wars of religion the castle surrendered to Protestant troops. In 1692 the castle held off an attack of English and Savoy troops under Schomberg. The spot is an obvious one for fortification as it dominates the valley around it. Atop a rocky outcrop in a deep glacial valley, the Guil River passes through a gorge on one side of the castle, and the other side has just enough room for a road. The road to the east leads to Italy, formerly Savoy, and to the west the road runs along the river, including through gorges, to Mont Dauphin, a fortress town designed and built by Vauban. Vauban visited Chateau Queyras in 1692 after the siege and planned improved defenses. The result is an interesting combination of an old medieval castle and 17th century design - all adapted to the terrain.

johnsmilitaryhistory.com

Website:http://www.fortqueyras.com/

Queyras Castle

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Queyras Castle

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Queyras Castle

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Queyras Castle

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Queyras Castle

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Queyras Castle

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Queyras Castle

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Queyras Castle

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Queyras Castle

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Queyras Castle

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Queyras Castle

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Queyras Castle

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Queyras Castle

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Queyras Castle

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Queyras Castle

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Queyras Castle

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Queyras Castle

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Queyras Castle

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Queyras Castle

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Queyras Castle

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Queyras Castle

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Queyras Castle

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Queyras Castle

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Queyras Castle

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Queyras Castle

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Queyras Castle

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Queyras Castle

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Queyras Castle

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Queyras Castle

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Queyras Castle

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Queyras Castle

Entrance across the drawbridge at left, over a ditch, and into a demi-lune. The keep is the tall tower at center. Queyras Castle 16
Queyras Castle

Entrance across the drawbridge at left, over a ditch, and into a demi-lune. The keep is the tall tower at center. Queyras Castle 16

Queyras Castle

Vue générale sur la Demi-Lune et sa douve. Porte dauphine. Queyras Castle 17
Queyras Castle

Vue générale sur la Demi-Lune et sa douve. Porte dauphine. Queyras Castle 17

Queyras Castle

Porte dauphine. Queyras Castle 18
Queyras Castle

Porte dauphine. Queyras Castle 18

Queyras Castle

Porte dauphine. Queyras Castle 19
Queyras Castle

Porte dauphine. Queyras Castle 19

Queyras Castle

Through Dauphine Gate. Passing between two walls further secures the entrance. We entered the gate at right and find another arch to pass on the left of the panorama. Beyond that arch is the Royale Gate, which we see next. Then we will return to the area of his photo and take the steps up the tower to reach the Northeast Bastion. Queyras Castle 20
Queyras Castle

Through Dauphine Gate. Passing between two walls further secures the entrance. We entered the gate at right and find another arch to pass on the left of the panorama. Beyond that arch is the Royale Gate, which we see next. Then we will return to the area of his photo and take the steps up the tower to reach the Northeast Bastion. Queyras Castle 20

Queyras Castle

Royale Gate. The border between the medieval and the Vauban modification, the gate was widened to accommodate cannon. A coat of arms graces the pediment. The stairs at right lead to fighting positions. Queyras Castle 21
Queyras Castle

Royale Gate. The border between the medieval and the Vauban modification, the gate was widened to accommodate cannon. A coat of arms graces the pediment. The stairs at right lead to fighting positions. Queyras Castle 21

Queyras Castle

Porte Royale. Vous remarquerez sur cette photo les entailles pratiquées dans la pierre des pieds-droits pour les essieux des véhicules d'artillerie. Cette porte étant trop étroite pour permettre le passage des canons, il fallait démonter les vantaux. Queyras Castle 22
Queyras Castle

Porte Royale. Vous remarquerez sur cette photo les entailles pratiquées dans la pierre des pieds-droits pour les essieux des véhicules d'artillerie. Cette porte étant trop étroite pour permettre le passage des canons, il fallait démonter les vantaux. Queyras Castle 22

Queyras Castle

We walked through the passage at right from the Northeast Bastion. Ahead on the left is North Barracks Blockhouse. Queyras Castle 23
Queyras Castle

We walked through the passage at right from the Northeast Bastion. Ahead on the left is North Barracks Blockhouse. Queyras Castle 23

Queyras Castle

North Barracks Blockhouse. Built in 1841-42, the North Barracks Blockhouse is designed for five guns - aimed at Rouet Plateau. Queyras Castle 24
Queyras Castle

North Barracks Blockhouse. Built in 1841-42, the North Barracks Blockhouse is designed for five guns - aimed at Rouet Plateau. Queyras Castle 24

Queyras Castle

Les fours de la boulangerie (Hornos de panadería, Bakery ovens). Queyras Castle 25
Queyras Castle

Les fours de la boulangerie (Hornos de panadería, Bakery ovens). Queyras Castle 25

Queyras Castle

Powder House at Left. Queyras Castle 26
Queyras Castle

Powder House at Left. Queyras Castle 26

Queyras Castle

Artillery Yard. The old castle courtyard was modified by Vauban. The keep's courtyard is across the ditch and through the drawbridge at left. Vauban filled the ditch and leveled the courtyard, creating fighting positionsQueyras Castle 27
Queyras Castle

Artillery Yard. The old castle courtyard was modified by Vauban. The keep's courtyard is across the ditch and through the drawbridge at left. Vauban filled the ditch and leveled the courtyard, creating fighting positionsQueyras Castle 27

Queyras Castle

Le pont-levis donnant accès à la cour supérieure. Queyras Castle 28
Queyras Castle

Le pont-levis donnant accès à la cour supérieure. Queyras Castle 28

Queyras Castle

The drawbridge worked by counterweight. Queyras Castle 29
Queyras Castle

The drawbridge worked by counterweight. Queyras Castle 29

Queyras Castle

Keep Courtyard. The keep at left was built sometime before 1265. It held all the castle's important supplies until Vauban distributed them throughout the castle. In the 18th century, the keep was home to the commandant and several officers. At right note the loopholes for the infantry. Directly behind the well at center is a barracks building. In Front is the chapel. Queyras Castle 30
Queyras Castle

Keep Courtyard. The keep at left was built sometime before 1265. It held all the castle's important supplies until Vauban distributed them throughout the castle. In the 18th century, the keep was home to the commandant and several officers. At right note the loopholes for the infantry. Directly behind the well at center is a barracks building. In Front is the chapel. Queyras Castle 30

Queyras Castle

Le donjon. Queyras Castle 31
Queyras Castle

Le donjon. Queyras Castle 31

Queyras Castle

Chemin de ronde au Sud de la cour avec à sa gauche une tour et à droite la caserne. Queyras Castle 32
Queyras Castle

Chemin de ronde au Sud de la cour avec à sa gauche une tour et à droite la caserne. Queyras Castle 32

Queyras Castle

Drawbridge. Le fossé vu dans l'autre sens. On aperçois la passerelle de l'accès Ouest au château et sa tour Nord-Oues. Queyras Castle 33
Queyras Castle

Drawbridge. Le fossé vu dans l'autre sens. On aperçois la passerelle de l'accès Ouest au château et sa tour Nord-Oues. Queyras Castle 33

Queyras Castle

Drawbridge. Queyras Castle 34
Queyras Castle

Drawbridge. Queyras Castle 34

Queyras Castle

Accès Est au Château. Ce pont est intérrompu à droite au niveau du pilier par un pont levis. Queyras Castle 35
Queyras Castle

Accès Est au Château. Ce pont est intérrompu à droite au niveau du pilier par un pont levis. Queyras Castle 35

Queyras Castle

Drawbridge. Several systems were used over time to raise and lower the drawbridge. The eventual system involved this mechanism with two 100 kg counterweights. Queyras Castle 36
Queyras Castle

Drawbridge. Several systems were used over time to raise and lower the drawbridge. The eventual system involved this mechanism with two 100 kg counterweights. Queyras Castle 36

Queyras Castle

Interior. Queyras Castle 37
Queyras Castle

Interior. Queyras Castle 37

Queyras Castle

Exposition d'armures, armes et boucliers dans la tour du chemin de ronde de la cour du château. Queyras Castle 38
Queyras Castle

Exposition d'armures, armes et boucliers dans la tour du chemin de ronde de la cour du château. Queyras Castle 38

Queyras Castle

Interior. Queyras Castle 39
Queyras Castle

Interior. Queyras Castle 39

Queyras Castle

Interior. Queyras Castle 40
Queyras Castle

Interior. Queyras Castle 40

Queyras Castle

Interior. Queyras Castle 41
Queyras Castle

Interior. Queyras Castle 41

Queyras Castle

Interior. Queyras Castle 42
Queyras Castle

Interior. Queyras Castle 42

Queyras Castle

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Queyras Castle

Interior. Queyras Castle 43

Queyras Castle

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Queyras Castle

Interior. Queyras Castle 44

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Queyras Castle

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Queyras Castle

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Queyras Castle

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Queyras Castle

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Queyras Castle

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Queyras Castle

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Queyras Castle

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Queyras Castle

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Queyras Castle

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Queyras Castle

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Queyras Castle

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Queyras Castle

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Queyras Castle

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Queyras Castle

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Queyras Castle

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Queyras Castle

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Queyras Castle

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Queyras Castle

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Queyras Castle

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Queyras Castle

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Queyras Castle

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Queyras Castle

Le Guil. Queyras Castle 56
Queyras Castle

Le Guil. Queyras Castle 56

Queyras Castle

Vue aérienne. Queyras Castle 57
Queyras Castle

Vue aérienne. Queyras Castle 57

Queyras Castle

Vue aérienne. Queyras Castle 58
Queyras Castle

Vue aérienne. Queyras Castle 58

Queyras Castle

Vue aérienne. Queyras Castle 59
Queyras Castle

Vue aérienne. Queyras Castle 59

Queyras Castle

Vue aérienne. Queyras Castle 60
Queyras Castle

Vue aérienne. Queyras Castle 60

Queyras Castle

Queyras Castle
Queyras Castle

Queyras Castle

Queyras Castle

Queyras Castle
Queyras Castle

Queyras Castle