BONAGUIL CASTLE

Bonaguil is the fortified castle as imagined in stories of knights and princesses. It's also the castle of superlatives: "the most beautiful", the largest (its outer enclosure is 350 meters long) and certainly the last to be built in the kingdom. As early as 1271, Bonaguil's existence is mentioned in a document. All that remains of the original small castle is a tower, the front part of today's keep, and a few of the dwelling walls. It wasn't until 1490 that the powerful seigneur Bérenger de Roquefeuil began work to turn Bonaguil into the exceptional château it is today. Built in a period of transition between the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, the fortress was never attacked, hence its remarkable state of preservation. It evolved over time, softening in the second half of the ^18th century when Marguerite de Fumel transformed it into a residence, before finally succumbing to the French Revolution, which proved fatal. Dismantled by the Convention, which left only the stone skeleton, the château was finally bought by the commune of Fumel in 1860, and classified as a Monument Historique in 1862.

As time went by, the château was rejuvenated! Bonaguil gracefully lent itself to the restoration campaigns that were undertaken to restore its superb appearance. During renovation, the fortress was fitted with a new drawbridge, an essential element in its status as a fortified castle (there used to be 6). It was the Cour des Loges bridge, which once served the lower courtyard and domestic areas, that benefited from the work. In 2016, restoration work focused on the Tour du Fournil and the bread oven, as well as the southern staircase behind the well. This staircase linked the two main levels of occupation. Now fully restored, it provides direct access from the main courtyard to the cave entrance. The château has been equipped with new copies of medieval weapons, including crossbows, spears and a harquebus, all of which are on display. The path leading from the bottom of the village to the castle entrance has been rebuilt and, at night, illuminates the climb with animated projections on the walls.

Today, Bonaguil welcomes around 70,000 visitors a year, making it the most visited monument in the Lot-et-Garonne region. Its exceptional setting is also the setting for a number of events, including the medieval festival in July, the theater festival in August, the Bonabulles festival in September and an escape game.