Château de Villeneuve-Lembron

In 1480, Rigault d'Aureille (1455-1517), Baron of Villeneuve and maître d'hôtel to the kings Louis XI, Charles VIII, Louis XII and François 1st, built a new château away from the old family mansion.
On 16 July 1533, his son Maximilien received François 1st there on his way to Marseille. In 1577, the château passed to Gaspard de Montmorin, Governor of Auvergne, who embellished it with a new décor.
In 1643, his grandson Nicolas sold it to Isaac Dufour, Treasurer of France, who further modified its appearance and decoration.
When Jean-Baptiste Claude Dufour de Villeneuve died in 1797, Elisabeth Jeanne Catherine, widow of Pellissier de Féligonde, became the owner of the château, which remained in the family until 1906.
The last owner was Georges Texier, a member of parliament. He sold the outbuildings to a farmer, then the château to the State in 1937. The State restored the original monumental ensemble by purchasing the outbuildings in 1966.
The latest restoration work highlights the originality of the decor, with furnishings that reflect the castle's owners at different times.