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Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

Labastide Castle, or Marsa Castle, is an emblematic monument of Beauregard, in the Lot. Its history dates back to the 13th century, when the family of Marsa, knights of Caylus chestnut, became its owner. A square tower, still visible today, dates back to this time. Tensions with the Templars, as in 1267 where the lord of Marsa is accused of unduly perceiving tithes, mark his first decades. The family, though modest, maintains its local influence despite external pressures.

In the 15th century, after the ravages of the Hundred Years' War, Jean de Marsa revived agricultural activity by attracting new tillers around 1460. The castle, partially renovated, preserves traces of mâchicoulis of this period. The Marsa, squire at the Papal Court of Avignon in the 14th and 15th centuries, extended their network before gradually declining. In 1504 Pierre de Marsa drew up an inventory of his assets, but already resides in his other fief of Saillac, pointing to a gradual disengagement.

The 17th century saw the castle pass into the hands of Emmanuel de Lagardelle, a relative of the Marsa. At that time, the building was restructured: two bodies of square houses were connected by a central building, resting on a vaulted room in a cradle. The interiors, although redesigned, retain traces of frescoes and a French ceiling. Guillaume Lacoste, preceptor of Lagardelle children and historian of Quercy, lived there for a time. In 1786 Jean de Saint-Martin became its last owner before the Revolution.

Architecturally, the castle combines defensive elements (thirteenth century tower, 15th century mâchicoulis) and Renaissance additions (windows, staircase with screws). Ranked a Historical Monument in 1979, it bears witness to the evolution of a Quercynian seigneury, from medieval conflicts to modern-day transformations. Its regular plan, typical of the seventeenth century, contrasts with its medieval origins, reflecting the successive adaptations of its owners.

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