Gavaudun : an impressive singularity
Everything is special about this castle built in the 11th century. From the entrance "hole" in the rock in the form of a vertical well to its ramparts crowning the rocky spur giving the impression of a natural wall, through its keep dominating the valley from the top of its 20.80 meters and whose appearance is cylindrical, angular or straight. It looks like an impregnable castle, and is called the "lock of the valley". The dungeon and the castle as a whole were classified as "historic monuments" in 1882 and 1987 respectively. Only the base of the keep bears witness to the first construction. Gavaudun is characterized by narrow passages, steep stairs, steep ascents and descents, although its accessibility has evolved over time. The Durfort, Lustrac, Caumont, Auray de Brie families succeeded each other at the head of the castle through wars and marriages before the commune of Gavaudun became the owner in the 19th century. You can experience the different eras through the successive summer animations. Gavaudun is an exceptional place, and its particularities give it a medieval atmosphere without equal.
Bonaguil : the good needle
Proudly standing on a rocky spire, the castle of Bonaguil ("the good needle") has dominated the valley and the medieval village for eight centuries, a strategic position to control the borders between Quercy, Agenais and Périgord. This magnificent fortress mixes in its architecture the defense systems of the Middle Ages (thick walls, ditches...) with the first decorative and comfort elements of the Renaissance (mullioned windows, latrine system close to our sewage system, beautiful chimneys...). From the barbican to the main courtyard, through the natural cave, a wonderful storage place, and up to the top of the dungeon, from where the panoramic view on the surroundings is magnificent, everything is to be discovered. The graffiti in the Grosse Tower, the words engraved in the stone or written on the walls, are real testimonies of the daily life of the time. As early as 1271, the existence of Bonaguil is mentioned in a document. It is then only a simple stone tower, the base of the current keep. It was not until 1483 that the powerful Berenger de Roquefeuil, lord of the region, began more than thirty years of work and made Bonaguil the exceptional castle it is today. Built in a period of transition, between the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, the fortress has never been attacked, hence its remarkable state of preservation. The castle was bought by the commune of Fumel in 1860 and classified as a historical monument in 1862. Today, Bonaguil welcomes around 70,000 visitors per year and lends its exceptional setting to numerous events. It is the castle of all superlatives: "the most beautiful", the largest and certainly the last castle built in the kingdom!
Duras: an evolution through family history
Dominating the Dropt valley, the castle of Duras has been through the history of France. Built in 1137 by Guillaume Amanieu, Viscount of Benauge, Bezaume and Gabardan, it was then a simple castrum. It then passed into the Goth family, including Bertrand de Goth, who became Pope under the name of Clement V. At the heart of the Franco-English wars, the castle was then adorned with walls, drawbridges, towers and a dungeon to become an impregnable fortress thanks to pontifical money. The castle then changed hands once again and the Durforts became the lords of Duras. Sometimes on the English side, sometimes on the French side, political and financial strategies benefited the family. The end of the Hundred Years' War with the battle of Castillon in 1453 opened an era of peace which was not to last. During the Wars of Religion in the 16th century, the lords of Duras opposed the King by becoming Protestants. Worn out by several years of war, the Durfort-Duras finally renounced their Protestant faith and obtained the title of Count. The door to social ascension was open: count, marquis, duke and peer of France, the castle became a showcase for the financial, military and political power of the Durfort-Duras family. For two centuries, the castle will live at the rhythm of architectural developments: transformations, extensions, embellishments ... to become a villa of pleasure inspired by the Renaissance and accompanied by French gardens. The French Revolution put an end to all this work. The castle of Duras can be visited today and it is absolutely necessary to attend the nocturnal enchantment which reveals its history by the means of a coloured and animated Mapping 4D. Majestic!
Nérac : the royal castle of Albret
Built in the 14th century, it overlooks the Baïse river with a tower and 3 wings where the apartments of Jeanne d'Albret are located (north wing), the main dwellings (east wing) and the service rooms and the drawbridge (west wing). It is thus in this castle which illustrates the life of the family of Albret that will live the future Henri IV then Henri III of Albret and who will share this building with the queen Margot, Marguerite de Valois. After his death, the castle will begin a long decline between the repression of the Protestants and the events generated by the French revolution. From this period, only the north wing and its Renaissance style torso columns remain. When in 1925 the city became the owner of the castle, a real restoration was put in place until the creation of a municipal museum. This castle is a witness to French history and the home of one of its most iconic kings. It is now the setting for a permanent exhibition on Henri IV and the Albrets. A royal castle!
