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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The castle of Bosc, located in Masquières (Lot-et-Garonne), is a building whose origins date back to the 16th century, with older remains like vaulted cellars of the 14th century. He was initially the den of Bosc's family, then passed to the Laduguie family in the mid-16th century. A quadrangular tower of the 16th century, as well as a 17th century chapel, testify to these early phases of construction. The U-shaped plan of the castle, with its central house body and two pavilions, masks a disaxement on the terrace, revealing successive construction campaigns.

In the 18th century, the Nicolas de Lisleferme family of Bordeaux Protestant traders acquired the seigneury in 1765 and undertook an ambitious reconstruction. The castle is then enlarged, symetized, and integrated into a vast winery that will remain in the family until the middle of the 20th century. The amenities include a classic courtyard-side façade, a monumental staircase, and a ironwork gate marking the entrance. A plan of 1783 attests to its current configuration, with the exception of a regular garden now gone.

After the Second World War, the castle was transformed to accommodate a holiday settlement for the staff of the Comptoir d'Escount (future BNP). The interiors are renovated, and the exterior facade is restored in the 3rd quarter of the 20th century, with the removal of the coatings and the joining with cement. In 1952, the castle is now home to a recreation centre run by the BNP Central Business Committee.

The architecture of the castle combines defensive elements inherited from the 16th century, such as the northwest tower pierced with cannon guns, and classic additions of the 18th century, such as the pyramid roof pavilions or the Louis XIV balustrade. The outbuildings, including a possible former dovecote, as well as the medieval cellars, recall its evolution from a seigneurial den to a wine residence, then a collective resort.

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