Ok Its official, I need some Fresh Air, and Photography Practice. Gotta get out of the house, If I spend 5 more minutes at this laptop its going out the window.
My eyes have gone square. Seriously, Hold your horses I'll Be Right Back.
Road Trip!
There that's better, its sunny outside and the boy has been on Easter vacation for the better part of 2 weeks.
We have in that 2 weeks surprisingly done... Not a lot. Ok that's not exactly true, we have done a lot of Minecraft, Lego, Movies, general slobbery.
You know, Normal Rainy days activities, which seem to bleed into every day during covid times.
So out we went. About 45 minutes from our place is an area called the Les Baronnies de Pyrenees, and there stood our destination. The Chateau de Mauvezin.
So After me and 
All Photos are taken on our Phones, Honor 9 and 10 respectively. No clue what the cameras are but they make phone calls.
She wasn't impressed with me, Apparently Twingo's are not offroad vehicles. BUT Google said it was a Road.
Once we got there we had a nice walk around, Its pretty much deserted so nice and quiet.
While walking around the side we found our first highlight for the day. Pyrenean Goats complete with a traditional Gascon shelter.
These were my sons favorite bit, Medieval toilets. He kept standing under them shouting Oh no, someones gonna poo on me!
I guess its better the place was empty...
Fun fact- Medieval toilets are called the privy or garderobe I have been told, and neccessarium. Another fun fact, Every time I go to the bathroom now I will be referring to it as the neccessarium.
The Castle itself has been being Renovated for a long while, Its looking pretty good.
They have even built replicas of the outbuildings and palisades which is pretty cool.
There's also an old cemetery attached which made for some nice photos.
And now a word from our sponsor - Medieval Mail Authentic chainmail made by Serfs for Serfs. Utilizing Recycled Components Reclaimed from dead... erm.. decommissioned knights.
Back to our regularly scheduled programming.
A Brief History-(doing my best here I am NOT a Historian)
Originally built in the 11th century as a wooden tower on a artificial earth embankment,Surrounded by palisades. These kind of structures are called casterar in Gascon.
Then for a few hundred years this area bounced round between so many lords that I imagine the poor bastards living here didn't know who owned their serfdom.
In 1360, the chateau de Mauvezin was returned to the King of England. The Duke of Anjou the son of the King of France, and the lieutenant-general in Languedoc, was more than a bit cross about that.
So he besieged the English in Mauvezin, took over the castle and gave it to Jean the 1st d'Armagnac.
Now its the turn of Gaston Febus to be pissed off about it,He wanted that prime real estate. So Off he goes to war against his neighbor.
After a few more years of knightly ass kicking, In 1379, it was given to Gaston Febus who added it to his country of Nébouzan.
Now Gaston Febus is an almost legendary figure here in the Baronnies, theres even a big festival every year in his honor.
He commissioned a number of Fortifications in the area designed by the Languedoc architect Sicard de Lordat.
So Lordat oversaw the beginnings of the construction of this big ass Chateau you see here.
It was added to over the centuries and stayed in the same family for the most part until the Revolution, when it became State owned after lots of guillotining and chop, chop, chopping of heads.
It is currently part of a large restoration project as it was in pretty bad shape at the turn of the century.
During the summer you can pay to go on a tour of the interior. Can also check it out inside on Google maps.