The castle of Usson is the most ancient of both strongholds of the Donezan. It was first mentioned in 1035 but its building up probably dates back to the end of the 10 th Century. It was occupied without interruption until 1794 and it bears, still most visible, the marks of this long occupation. It was in turn property of the So and Alion families, of the Catalan Counts of Foix, of the Kings of France, or even of the Usson de Bonnac family, last holder of this antic stronghold. The marquis de Bonnac, Jean-Louis d'Usson, turned the medieval dwelling place through many restorations under his control, together with Victor Canas' architectural project, into a residential house according to the fashion of the 18 th Century. The Revolution of 1789 tolled the knell for a lot of castles belonging to the nobility and that of Usson knew its own demolition stone after stone, finally becoming a quarry for the inhabitants of the next villages. One has to wait till 1990 to see this legendary site as a witness of actions aimed at saving it from falling into total ruin. The low wall serves now as a shelter for the Patrimony House which was fixed up in the former stables, built in the 18 th Century.