The castle was probably abandoned at the beginning of the 15th century although the reasons are unknown, and it gradually sank into oblivion. Like most castles in the region, Calberte probably suffered the threat of mercenary free companies during the Hundred Years' War. It ended in March 1384 when the parliament voted in favour of Thibaud de Budos. A 24-year long private war pitted the Budos and Guillaume III Roger de Beaufort over the possession. The lordship of Porte was then contested by two legitimate lords. The Treaty of Brétigny in 1360 cancelled the confiscations of 1340. He sold it in 1344 to William II Roger de Beaufort. This earned them the confiscation of the barony by the king in 1340. Being originally from Guyenne, they therefore generally took the side of the English during the Hundred Years' War. In 1322, it was sold by Guillaume de Randon to the Budos family. ![]() The castle nevertheless underwent the vicissitudes of the lordship of Portes. The castle remained the direct property of the Barons de Portes until 1320 when Raymond de Cadoène bought it from them and paid tribute to them for it. In 1307, after 36 years of legal processes between them, the act of paréage (treaty) gave it to him definitively. A first agreement in 1265 gave it to the king. But the Bishop of Mende and the king disputed for a long time the possession of the region. Having taken the side of their suzerain, the Count of Toulouse, their property including this castle was confiscated by the King of France around 1229, at the end of the Albigensian Crusade. It was then a possession of the lords of Anduze, who held the Baronnies of Portes. The construction of the castle would have started in the 11th century, but it took its current dimensions in the 12th century. The excavations carried out there were able to determine that they essentially housed a metallurgical activity (slag, hearths, disposal). The streets had a drainage system for runoff water. They had double-pitched roofs covered with slate. The houses that have been excavated all had two levels (ground floor for animals, first floor for residents). The adjoining village included about fifteen houses (or a hundred inhabitants). The main access is through the northeast gate This village is itself surrounded by a second enceinte which encloses everything. A first small enceinte isolates the buildings of the castle from those of the medieval village located below on the north side. Four outbuildings, a round tower and a castral chapel complete it. It has two levels, and in the 14th century were added merlons, battlements and a bretèche above its door. An older rectangular dwelling is attached to it. The square keep, 11 metres (36 ft) high, dates from the 12th century. The castle is composed of several buildings. It is 1 kilometre (0.62 mi) below the present village at the bottom of the valley. ![]() It stands at an altitude of 410 metres (1,350 ft) on a rock outcrop on the banks of the Gardon. The castle is situated in the heart of the Cévennes, in the former province of Gévaudan.
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