Saint-Jean-de-Côle - Château de la Marthonie

Today Saint-Jean-de-Côle, a member of "Les Plus Beaux Villages de France" ("most beautiful villages of France"), has a population of only about 300. When the family de La Marthonie, after which the castle is named, moved to Saint-Jean-de-Côle around 1250, an earlier castle existed already. This castle got ruined when English troops seized the village in 1394 and settled here for 11 years, befor French troops forced them out.

The current castle was rebuilt from the end of the 15th century on, but suffered again, when in 1569 Saint-Jean-de-Côle was pillaged by the Protestants during the wars of religion .

After the end of the war the castle got rebuilt again in a Renaissance style and a large wing was added in the 17rth century.