The Ducal Castle, known as the Duchy
The Duchy was built on an ancient "Castrum" or Roman camp. During the first millennium, this site became the residence of the governor. These wooden structures did not survive through the centuries. However, Dhuoda, Duchess of Septimania, was exiled there in the middle of the 9th century by her husband Bernard. Dhuoda was the first woman in the West to write a book. This book, which still exists today, is an educational manual written for her son.
The Ducal Castle, known as the "Duchy", is a true reflection of French history through its architecture. The Middle Ages, the Renaissance, the Age of Enlightenment and the Modern Era are all represented here. Despite this blend of architectural styles, the overall composition creates a remarkable harmony.
The Tower
The Duchy by Night
The Duchy after the French Revolution
Uzès and the Duchy in 1624
This building endured difficult times during the French Revolution. Sold as a national asset, it was vandalised and converted into a school.
The Duke of Uzès reacquired the Duchy in 1824 from local Uzès families (including the family of the writer André Gide), who had helped preserve it by acquiring the property. From 1834, after the completion of the new college in Uzès, the Duke undertook major restoration works and improvements to the building.
The first half of the 20th century was also a dark period for the Duchy. In financial difficulty, the Duke of Uzès sold his furniture and leased the Duchy to the French Ministry of Education, which once again converted it into a school. Showing little respect for the historic character of the monument, the institution neglected its maintenance responsibilities and covered both the interior and exterior with concrete.
From 1951 onwards, the Marquise de Crussol recovered the Duchy with the support of the Ministry of Fine Arts and began its restoration. A friend of André Malraux, Minister of Culture under General de Gaulle, whom she had welcomed in her political salon, she secured protected status for the historic district in 1964, helping the town of Uzès emerge from two centuries of oblivion.
Marie-Louise Béziers
Marquise de Crussol
Facade in 1951
Facade in 2006
Her grandson and his wife, the current Duke and Duchess of Uzès, continue the restoration efforts initiated by the Marquise de Crussol.
Since then, much of the structural work has been restored, and new acquisitions of furniture and objects regularly enrich the collections and enhance the visitor experience.
The Duchy is one of the few examples of a family-owned castle undergoing a complete restoration at the beginning of the 21st century.
