Art Déco
Château Pradel is located at the panoramic viewpoint of Castelnau-de-Montmiral. When the town was founded in 1222 as a “fortified new town”, or Albigensian bastide, the town’s castle spanned the area on each side of today’s Rue du Château. Ruins of steps can be seen on both sides of the passageway.
The tourist agency imagines it looked something like this at the time
Artistic impression of how the original 1222 castle might have looked. Source: La Toscane Occitane
The castle was destroyed during the French revolution and the stones gradually used to build other buildings in town.
Château Pradel was built on the remains in the 1920s as a private residence with interior in Art Déco style. Art Déco originated in France in 1910s and was very popular in Europe and the US in the 1920s and 1930s.
The name Pradel comes from this area of the town known as Pradel, prominent in older maps. Up until recently the U-shaped one-way road leading in to, and away from, the panoramic viewpoint was called Promenade du Pradel, but the name was changed recently to Place du Souvenir. The old sign still remains.
Town plan of the west part of Castelnau with place names, about 2012. Source: Geoportail.gouv.fr
Pradel sign remains. Source: Private
Most of the steep slope from the panoramic viewpoint to the road below belongs to the château, but is unsuitable for modern agriculture. While an old building by most standards, it is one of the newer in town.
Staying in Castelnau-de-Montmiral is fantastic. There’s always something happening and everything is near.
Old steps leading up to Rue du Château. Similar steps on the other side as well. Source: Google Street View