Abstract EN:

From the Xth to the XIth century, the castra or castella mentioned in texts were most often situated on rocky summits : small, without enceinte, with stones irregularly bonded, often with herring-bone courses, their construction is entrusted to professional overseeing a less specialised work force, while counts and viscounts choose the location of these castles, controlling roads, it is their inhabitants who finance the construction. Others, not mentioned in texts, were no doubt built by independent small lords, many of these castles have houses at their bases. From the XIIth century onwards, on more accessible sites, the castle only protects against small scale attacks; simply planned, witch non flanked enceintes, sometimes just one massive building. In the north of the region of Beziers, castles are situated alongside roads and mining areas. Toll points control the obligatory passages. In the Lodeve region. The bishop installs systematically throughout his territory small castles and fortiae. When a castle is surrounded by a closed village, it tends to overflow beyond the enceinte; fortified habitations built by local lords, co-lords and knights tend to be separated from the original caput castri. The castrun can also be a set of habitations, ruled over by a community, situated at a certain distance from the caput castriwhere the population takes refuge in case of danger. There are few cha ges after the royal conquest; tow royal castellanies are established in the northern part of the Beziers region: some defensive characteristics are introduced, but only one family copy the royal strongholds by rebuilding its castle to compete with royal authority.