Last update 2010-10-25
A project for the Château and the old Village of Cascastel
1991, The first step
The Association des Amis du Château de Cascastel ( The Friends of the Château de Cascastel), was founded by Jean Claude LEGAY, Roger PHILIPPE, and Jean Claude TIBES.
The Association, at the time, published a brochure "Le Château de Cascastel", by Jean Claude LEGAY, with illustrations by Roger PHILIPPE.
This document allowed to the inhabitants of Cascastel to be informed about their legacy and begin to take an interest in what would happen to the Château and the old part of the village.
1999, The second step
After the catastrophic floods of 12th November 1999,in addition to the damage and destruction to the infrastructure (water, electricity, telephone), to the vines and property, the inhabitants of Cascastel were devastated by the destruction of the Stone Bridge. In addition, the arch in the tower, heavy with rubble and water, was in grave danger of collapsing.
Over the following weeks, Frédéric MARTORELLO, Architect, outlined a plan to save and protect the Site.
Over the next few years, the bridge would be rebuilt, identical to the original, and the tower given a provisional cover after the rubble was cleared.
The main part of the building would receive a new roof as well as new floors, and the wall of the Château adjacent to the River would be renovated.
2008, La troisième initiative
Since its foundation, the Association has organised cultural and social activities including art exhibitions, markets selling local wine, crafts and paintings, and car boot sales (Vide Grenier) (Events). These activities have allowed the organisation to have a sum of money at its disposal.
A project to save the building and to suggest ways of exploiting the site is a necessary condition to obtain financial support from those bodies with the responsability to promote local developement: the Conseil Général, the Conseil Régional, the Estate (Direction des Affaires Culturelles-DRAC).
The money collected by the Association is an indication of its wish to participate in the realisation of such a project.
The project consists of three parts:
* To demonstrate the Cultural and Historic value of the site. This is intended for the DRAC (Direction des Affaires Culturelles). The Buildings , The people * To give an economic justification of the site. this is intended for those public bodies who promote local and regional development. Local Economy * Detail of activities and the work required.
The Culture value of the site
In 2008, we had been informed by the Mairie of Cascastel of a study to restore and safeguard the plaster moulding in the Château of Cascastel. this study was done in January 2006 by Luc Nèples, Architect in Montpellier,Marc Dumont et Hervé Thillard , experts in stucco and plaster works.
The two craftmen described the stages of work which had preceded the plaster decoration. this was dated as having been carried out in the 17th century. For the moulding itself the experts gave a date for its realisation between 1720 and 1740. Luc Nèples gives an interpretation of the Baroque design and suggests that it presents a vision of an harmonious natural world, ordered, generous and welcoming for Man who is at the centre.
This Garden of Eden is menaced by dragons reappearing from primal chaos and situated in the four corners of the ceiling at the four compass points. There will therefore always be struggle between the rights of humans against reactionary forces. Luc Nèples attributes this work, which is devoid of any religious or mythical reference, to a humanist tradition. This humanistic view would, in 1789, firmy establish liberty and freedom for all.
In 2008, M. Antoine VILLA gave us a work titled "Les Pailhoux de Cascastel" edited by Bernard Péricon in 1990. this is a collection of legal papers and correspondence that were in Bernard Péricon's possession. It is a history of the Pailhoux family and has Joseph Gaspard Pailhoux , 1726-1800 as the main subject. His father acquired the Château and the Seigneurie of Cascastel shortly before his death in 1734.
His widow, Marie Thérèse de Ros, took possession in 1736 and made other acquisitions, notably the gardens, the béal, water course for the mill, and the mills themselves.
Joseph Gaspard was 10 years old at the time and would have experienced living in harmonious surroundings during his life.
This setting continued to be pleasant and productive and could still be experienced up to the end of the 1960's.
Joseph Gaspard, in addition to his numerous family, was Councillor to the Conseil Souverain de Roussillon.
He was therefore a Parliamentarian and took his seat at the Parliament of Toulouse.This was an onerous role.
Parliaments under the pre-Revolutionary regime had a major role in matter of public finance as well as legal and judicial concerns.
The resistance of the Parliaments to the absolute monarchy contributed to the growth of political ideas which would finally replace the old regime.
The most important aspect of Joseph Gaspard's life was his exploitation of the mines and the smelting forges. From 1778, he surrounded himself
with technical experts and created a Company. In 1796 he asked the Director for help to establish better roads so that he could develop his enterprises, to give work to the inhabitants of Cascastel of which he was the Mayor, and also to the inhabitants of a number of other villages where his mineral exploitation extended.
There is thus on one side a decoration which can only be an allegory and on the other a man who is known to have developed his property and land in a very modern and advanced way technically, socially, and politically.
As further evidence of the importance of this site, we have the expertise of Luc Nèples describing the decoration
and finally there is the biography of Joseph Gaspard giving details of his life.
If we compare these two elements, we find that they are not contradictory and there is in fact a remarkable coincidence:
the study, done in 2006, estimated that the decor could be attributed to a single Master craftsman who would have worked between 1720 an 1740. The deed and acts of the Pailhoux family show that they took possession in1736.
Luc Nèples has described this work as the "message" of Cascastel.
This decoration is not an allegory
The design of the stucco room is a representation of ideas that were the same as those held by Joseph Gaspard and other men of the Age of Enlightment or Reason. Humanistic ideals menaced by the chaos of the world of money.
This message, identified by the experts in an interpretation of the design, and confirmed by the biography of Joseph Gaspard proves to be a dazzling reality.
The history of our area is not only shaped by the force of the winds and of ancient battles but also has traces of the plough and of those who worked respecting Man and Nature. The secret of the making of a better world is not found hiden in an some vault but is open to all, hidden only under the dust and the distemper of the Château de Cascastel.
This decor is a sumptuous setting, still capable of transmitting an important message today.
We can build up an image around this message, the nobility of the surroundings and its inhabitants lending weight to this.
It is not only the plaster decoration which is of interest, there is also a rich history with archeological evidence which we describe in other pages.
A visit to Cascastel becomes a tour through ideas and thoughts.
This is an inheritance of the lives lived by people who have preceded us and must be preserved and made available.
This project is based on the assumption that the building of the Cascastel Château can be divided into two sections. On one side the older part including the tower and the room with the plaster moulding which could be developed as a reception an information centre for the site and on the other side a substantial building which could be converted to provide accommodation for visitors and tourists.
Economic Reasons
The main focus is to encourage tourism and thus direct investment towards those activities which assure its success. Money invested in facilities which are principally for local use are often under used. The local history, when given a value and importance, is a way of boosting the economy.
The Languedoc Roussillon Region is aware of the importance of the history of the Region and the place of tourism in the economy and plays a leading role in the promotion of projects aimed at encouraging visitors. The Conseil Général (The department of Aude) is also active in this area notably through the 'Pays Touristique Corbières Minervois'. The 'Communauté de Communes de la Contrée de Durban Corbières' promotes local development.
This project is thus directed at these administative public bodies who have supported a number of local initiatives. For example, the villages of Termes and Villerouge, despite the disappearance of the vines, have retained viable activities based on the historical importance of their buildings and the role played by individuals during the crusade against the Cathars. At Cascastel we have Joseph Gaspard Pailhoux and the 18th century decorated roomwith its humanistic message.
L'objectif principal est de fixer la migration touristique et donc d'orienter l'investissement vers des activités qui assureront un retour.
L'investissement réservé à des équipements à usage local, souvent sous-employés, n'est pas productif.
La mise en valeur du Patrimoine est considérée comme un outil de relance de l'économie, mais elle est aussi capable de générer des retombées.
Nous sommes entrés dans l'ére d'une véritable Economie du Patrimoine.
La Région Languedoc Roussillon est consciente de ses atouts patrimoniaux, de la place du tourisme dans l'économie et joue un rôle de leader en la maitère.
Le Conseil Général agit en cohérence avec cette politique à travers notamment le Pays Touristique Corbières Minervois.
La Communauté de Communes de la Contrée de Durban Corbières intégre à son activité le Développement local.
Le présent projet global est donc rédigé à l'intention de ces organismes qui ont un bon nombre de réalisations à leur actif.
Par exemple, les villages de Termes ou de Villerouge, malgré l'arrachage des vignes, conservent une activité et un patrimoine bâti dont la valeur a été préservée.
Termes a son personnage embématique, Olivier. Héros vaincu de la résistance Cathare, il s'illustra comme compagnon de Saint Louis au cours des Croisades.
A Villerouge, c'est Bélibaste, le dernier Parfait Cathare qui guide les visiteurs.
A Cascastel, nous avons Joseph Gaspard Pailhoux qui nous laissa à travers le décor de son salon, son testament humaniste et social.
Le défi économique est de permettre aux viticulteurs de trouver des revenus complémentaires,
afin que leur activité d'entretien des paysages permette de développer un tourisme rural et culturel.
Les Activités et les travaux
Nous n'aborderons pas sur ce site le détail des travaux.
Par contre, les activités comprises dans le Projet sont développées à la page Execution .
Pour avoir accés à un résumé du projet, cliquez sur le lien suivant: Synthèse Projet
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