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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

Cramirat Castle, also known as the Cramirat mansion, is a Templar building erected around 1220 in the village of Sergeac (Dordogne, Nouvelle-Aquitaine). It served as the central command office for the order of the Templars in Black Perigord, sheltering even the great regional master until the dissolution of the order in 1307. In 1316 Guillaume de Crémirac, the local commander, renamed the site "Château de Crémirac" and restored a community there after the fall of the Templars. The place became a hospice for pilgrims on the way to Santiago de Compostela, marking its religious and social role in the Middle Ages.

The site has a remarkable prehistoric origin, with Cro-Magnon rock shelters showing human occupation as early as 30,000 B.C. In the 16th century, the castle and neighbouring church were fortified during the Wars of Religion, reflecting the tensions of the time. Between the late 19th century and the 1970s, it served as a community centre for the inhabitants of Sergeac. Partially classified in 1964, then in total in 2022 (courtyard, annexes and enclosure), it is today a private property. In 2025, he will benefit from the Heritage Lotto to restore his roof, currently protected by a tarpaulin.

The architecture preserves original Romanesque features: a two-storey house body, a round tower with mâchicoulis, and a fortified courtyard. The broken arch door leads to a vaulted cellar, while the tower keeps its crows and a medieval skylight. Located 30 metres from the Saint-Pantaléon Templar Church (XI century) and the Cross of the Templars (XVI century), the castle marks a historic stage on pilgrimage routes. Its inscription in historical monuments underscores its heritage importance, mixing Templar, medieval and prehistoric heritage.

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