Integration with the Viscount of Turenne XIVe siècle (≈ 1450)
Strong house dependent on Turenne.
1522
Foundation of vicarie
Foundation of vicarie 1522 (≈ 1522)
Chapel served by a priest.
1738
Sale of Viscount to the Crown
Sale of Viscount to the Crown 1738 (≈ 1738)
Decline of the castle under royal authority.
1987
Partial registration for Historic Monuments
Partial registration for Historic Monuments 1987 (≈ 1987)
Fronts and stairs protected.
1989
Classification of the chapel
Classification of the chapel 1989 (≈ 1989)
Total protection of the chapel.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
Fronts and roofs of the castle (except those of the former sheepfold); Sliding staircase (box C 786) : entry by order of 30 June 1987 ; Chapelle castrale (cad. C 786) : classification by order of 25 September 1989
Key figures
Information non disponible - No character named in the sources
Archives do not cite any specific actors.
Origin and history
The castle of Linoire, located in Turenne en Corrèze, is an old fort dating from the 15th century, integrated into the defensive system of the Viscounty of Turenne from the 14th century. It played a strategic monitoring role towards the Dordogne Valley, reflecting the military importance of this border region between feudal domains. Its architecture combines defensive elements, such as mâchicoulis and dissimilar towers, and religious arrangements, with a castral chapel added in the 16th century.
In 1522, a vicary was founded at the castle, marked by the presence of a resident priest and the construction of a flamboyant Gothic chapel decorated with complex dogid vaults. This chapel, classified as a historical monument in 1989, illustrates the growing religious influence in late medieval fortresses. The castle, partially inscribed in 1987 for its facades and its spiral staircase in pink sandstone, also bears witness to the functional transformations: a building served as a press and then a sheepfold in the 19th century.
The Viscount of Turenne, sold to the crown in 1738, lost its political autonomy, causing the castle to decline. Architectural remains, such as the arched hexagonal tower or the circular tower overlooking a ravine, recall its military past. Today, the private property, the site preserves remarkable elements, including a staircase with screws covered with a stone cap, symbol of local craftsmanship.
The castle of Linoire thus embodies the mutations of a medieval seigneury, moving from a defensive role to an agricultural vocation, while preserving traces of its past prestige. Its partial classification as a historic monument underscores its heritage value, between feudal heritage and subsequent adaptations. However, the accuracy of its location remains poor (level 5/10), limiting detailed geographical studies.
