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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Château du Cros is a ruins fortress built between the end of the 12th century and the middle of the 14th century, on a rocky spur overlooking the Garonne and the departmental road D10, 500 meters south of Loupiac (Gironde). Its construction, attested as early as 1155 by the Cartulare de la Sauve-Majeure, met military and river traffic monitoring requirements. The current plan, remodelled between the 14th and 17th centuries, preserves a covered tower (restored in 1993), a stubborn tower, a 17th century pavilion and remains of walls.

During the Hundred Years War, the castle remained under English control, resisting the attacks of the lords of Benauge. Occupied until World War II, he was requisitioned and destroyed by the German army, serving as a training target before being energized in 1944. Abandoned after the war, the site deteriorated rapidly, exposed to weather and vandalism, until it was listed on 31 December 1993.

Since 2008, the Association Les Amis du Vieux Château du Cros has managed the site via an emphyteotic lease. The restorations, launched in 2010, focused on the waterproofing of the walls, the repair of the flamboyant Gothic stairway tower, and chimneys. The castle now hosts two annual events: the Medieval Days of the Cros (first weekend in June) and guided tours during the European Heritage Days (September), animated by historical reconstitution troops.

Architecturally, the rectangular building combines a polygonal staircase tower, a circular tower and a square tower (only still covered). The adjacent 17th century pavilion could be a vestige of a larger building body. The current winery below maintains the historical link between the castle and local agricultural activities.

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