Can you visit the Château du Roi in Cahors?

No, the palace currently houses the county prison and is not open to tourists.

What is this supposed 14th-century beacon?

It is actually a chimney in the form of an octagonal brick column, flanked by a buttress and topped with a stone lantern. It has been removed from view.

Who had this palace built?

Pierre de Via, brother-in-law of Pope John XXII, had it constructed in the 14th century in Cahors.

Ancien palais de Via connu sous l'appellation Château du Roi, actuelle prison d’État

Cahors

Access

No visits on recordNo opening hours or ticketing found

Where: Cahors

To make a day of it

Open within 20 km

Sleep nearby

Ancien palais de Via connu sous l'appellation Château du Roi, actuelle prison d’État stands in Cahors (Lot), in the Occitanie region of France. The building is listed as a historic monument (dating recorded in the Mérimée database: 14th century). No visits are on record for this building.

Built in the 14th century for Pierre de Via, brother-in-law of Pope John XXII, this urban medieval palace in Cahors has served multiple purposes: aristocratic residence, then state prison. The site preserves remarkable medieval elements, including a distinctive tower and remains of an octagonal structure in brick and stone, long mistaken for a beacon meant to guide river traffic.

What to know

The site currently operates as a county prison and is not open to the public for visits.
The octagonal brick structure, once called a beacon, was actually a chimney; it has since been removed from its location.
The entire palace was listed as a historic monument in successive stages, with the most recent protection dating from 2019.

Where this château is

Cahors · Lot · Occitanie

Map of the area around Ancien palais de Via connu sous l'appellation Château du Roi, actuelle prison d’État

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This châteauChâteaux within 40 km

Address

Cahors, Lot

Directions open from wherever you are, by car or public transport.

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Heritage status: Listed historic monument (classé); Mérimée record PA00094998
Period of construction: 14th century

Frequently asked

Can you visit the Château du Roi in Cahors?: No, the palace currently houses the county prison and is not open to tourists.
What is this supposed 14th-century beacon?: It is actually a chimney in the form of an octagonal brick column, flanked by a buttress and topped with a stone lantern. It has been removed from view.
Who had this palace built?: Pierre de Via, brother-in-law of Pope John XXII, had it constructed in the 14th century in Cahors.