Who was Saint Emilie of Rodat?

Emilie of Rodat spent her childhood at Ginals Castle, where she felt called to religious life. She later founded the Congregation of the Holy Family and was canonized.

What is the oldest part of the castle?

The square keep with mullioned windows, built in the 14th century, is the oldest structure on the site.

Can you visit Ginals Castle?

The castle is privately owned. Visiting conditions are not publicly established; contact local authorities in Villeneuve to inquire about access possibilities.

Château de Ginals

Ginals Castle

Villeneuve

Access

No visits on recordNo opening hours or ticketing found

Where: Villeneuve

To make a day of it

Open within 20 km

Sleep nearby

Château de Ginals stands in Villeneuve (Aveyron), in the Occitanie region of France. The building is registered as a historic monument (dating recorded in the Mérimée database: 14th century, 17th century, 18th century). The building is privately owned and no visits are on record.

Ginals Castle, built in the 14th century in Villeneuve, Aveyron, preserves from that era its square keep with mullioned windows. The complex was enlarged in the 17th and 18th centuries with a remodelled wing and a second building connected by a 15th-century spiral staircase. Saint Emilie of Rodat spent her childhood there and experienced the call to religious life within its walls.

What to know

The site has been listed as a historic monument since 1980, notably for its original keep, spiral staircase, and gypsum plasterwork on the first floor.
No visiting hours are currently known; contact Villeneuve's town hall or local cultural services before planning a visit.
The castle is privately owned; visits may be limited or unavailable depending on the period.

Where this château is

Villeneuve · Aveyron · Occitanie

Map of the area around Château de Ginals

Loading the map…

This châteauChâteaux within 40 km

Address

12260 Villeneuve

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

Get directions View on a map

Heritage status: Registered historic monument (inscrit); Mérimée record PA00094226
Period of construction: 14th century, 17th century, 18th century

Frequently asked

Who was Saint Emilie of Rodat?: Emilie of Rodat spent her childhood at Ginals Castle, where she felt called to religious life. She later founded the Congregation of the Holy Family and was canonized.
What is the oldest part of the castle?: The square keep with mullioned windows, built in the 14th century, is the oldest structure on the site.
Can you visit Ginals Castle?: The castle is privately owned. Visiting conditions are not publicly established; contact local authorities in Villeneuve to inquire about access possibilities.