Saint-Jean d'Alcas fort A lady's fort

Mentioned in documents as early as 1153, the village of Saint Jean d’Alcas comprised, at that time, only the “Mas d’Olcas“, made up of a few houses, and its church dedicated to Saint-Jean Baptiste. ” Olcas” means arable land, suitable for agriculture and cattle breeding. At least, land rich enough to arouse the envy of neighboring lords.

In 1170 and 1196, the church and Mas d’Olcas became the property of the Cistercian priory of Nonenque, affiliated to Sylvanès. This priory, located in the Annou valley, acquired a large amount of land and became so important that it became an independent abbey. In fact, the abbess of Nonenque, as director of the abbey’s property, became the lord of the village.

A network of monastic barns was created and managed by Nonenque. In 1257, there were 7 different barns: Caussanus, Massergues, Caussanejouls, Mas Andral, etc.

The number of nuns living at the Abbey was quite high, as the same year saw the foundation of the priory of Saint-Sulpice-la-Pointe in the Tarn, dependent on Nonenque.

These rich lands often attracted the envy of many neighboring lords.

As early as 1356, at the request of the local population, the Abbess of Nonenque (the local lord) authorized the elevation of the church to add a refuge, thus enabling the villagers to entrench themselves there during the looting of the Hundred Years’ War.

Gradually, however, the refuge was no longer sufficient, and in 1439, it was decided to build new fortifications adjoining the church.
4 years later, the Fort de Saint-Jean-d’Alcas was completed.

Just over 10 metres high and over 1.50 metres thick in places, the fort was never besieged by the truckers and skinners who plundered the Larzac region.
The ramparts covered the entire fortified enclosure. During your visit, you’ll find part of the wall walk inside the upper rooms.