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Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Château du Bartas, located in Saint-Georges in Gers, was built between 1567 and 1569 by François de Saluste, a wealthy gascon merchant. In 1565 he acquired land belonging to the bishop of Lombez, where there was only a farm and woods. The construction contract, signed on 11 September 1567, provided for a seigneurial residence completed at the end of 1569, marking the transformation of the site into a noble fief.

The castle became the residence of Guillaume de Saluste du Bartas, son of François and renowned poet of the sixteenth century, who lived there all his life. He wrote part of his major work, La Semaine, where he celebrated his field in verse, comparing his "Dear Bartas" to the Louvre. The castle, passed on to its heirs, remained in the family until the 19th century, before being sold to successive owners, including Princess Margarita of Bourbon-Parme in the early 2000s.

Architecturally, the castle initially consists of a quadrangular two-storey house, flanked by a mâchicoulis polygonal tower housing a screw staircase. Over the centuries, circular towers are added to the corners, and the rear façade is finished in half-timbers. The square courtyard is surrounded by buildings of commons, typical of the Gasconian gentilhommières of the Renaissance. The castle was listed for historical monuments on September 3, 1934.

The site is inseparable from the figure of Guillaume de Saluste du Bartas, whose literary work and life are closely linked to this field. After his death, the castle passed into the hands of his descendants, then of families like d'Estarac, before being acquired by various personalities, including stylist Frédéric Castet. Today, it bears witness to both Gascony seigneurial architecture and the Renaissance cultural heritage.

Historical sources, including Wikipedia and Monumentum, highlight its heritage and literary importance. The castle, although private, remains a local symbol, associated with both the noble history of Gers and the poetry of the Pleiade. His inscription in 1934 consecrated his historical and architectural value, while preserving the memory of his illustrious occupant.

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